TitleDiagnosis and treatment of gastric motility disorders.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication1999
AuthorsHall, JA, Washabau, RJ
JournalThe Veterinary clinics of North America. Small animal practice
Volume29
Issue2
Pagination377-95
Date Published1999 Mar
KeywordsStomach Diseases
Abstract

A disorder of gastric motility should be suspected in patients with chronic vomiting. Imaging studies are used to confirm delayed gastric emptying, the most common form of a gastric motility disorder. Other causes of chronic vomiting, for example, metabolic or endocrine disorders, other abdominal disorders, mechanical causes of gastric obstruction, and lower gastrointestinal tract disease, are then ruled out. If no underlying cause is determined, a functional disorder of gastric emptying is presumptively diagnosed. Treatment consists of dietary management and gastric prokinetic agents. Cisapride is the drug of choice for treating delayed gastric emptying followed by erythromycin and ranitidine or nizatidine.