Gastric Electrical Stimulation Safe During Pregnancy, Alleviates Vomiting Symptoms

Gastric Electrical Stimulation (GES), a therapy for medically refractory chronic nausea and vomiting, has long been considered contraindicated during pregnancy. However, a recent study published in Neurogastroenterology & Motility by Heithem Soliman and colleagues conducted at two tertiary centers challenges this assumption, shedding light on the safety of GES during pregnancy and its potential impact on symptoms.

This retrospective study included female patients of childbearing age who had undergone GES implantation. The study had several key objectives:

Assess the safety of GES during pregnancy.

Examine the impact of GES on pregnancy outcomes.

Evaluate changes in nausea and vomiting symptoms during pregnancy.

● Among the 91 female patients who had GES implanted, 54 without pregnancy were surveyed about their desire for pregnancy and concerns about GES safety during pregnancy:

● 16.7% expressed a desire for pregnancy.

● 7.4% reported concerns about GES safety during pregnancy.

● A total of 16 pregnancies were reported in 10 patients, and all pregnancies resulted in live births.

● 75.0% of these pregnancies involved premature births.

● Importantly, no adverse maternal or foetal outcomes directly related to GES were observed.

● Mild complications included pain at the implantation site during three pregnancies (18.8%).

● In terms of symptom management, the severity and frequency of nausea and vomiting significantly increased during the first trimester but decreased after delivery, with symptoms becoming less severe than before pregnancy.

This study challenges the assumption that GES is contraindicated during pregnancy. It highlights that GES does not appear to pose significant risks to maternal or foetal health and may offer symptom relief to pregnant individuals experiencing chronic nausea and vomiting. However, it's important to note that this study is retrospective and involves a relatively small sample size. Therefore, further research and clinical evaluation may be needed to confirm these findings. Nevertheless, this study provides valuable insights into the safety of GES during pregnancy and offers hope to individuals seeking relief from pregnancy-related nausea and vomiting.

Reference:

Soliman, H., Schalla, M. A., Coffin, B., & Gourcerol, G. (2023). Gastric electrical stimulation is safe during pregnancy and delivery: Results from a French cohort. Neurogastroenterology and Motility: The Official Journal of the European Gastrointestinal Motility Society. https://doi.org/10.1111/nmo.14657.