Our services | Digestive nerve damage
Digestive nerve damage
Minor problems with the nerves involved in the digestion of food are very common. Abdominal pain and diarrhoea are the main symptoms.
An oesophageal manometry is used to measure how well the nerves and muscles in the oesophagus work.
More severe nerve damage in the food passageways can cause blockages. This is called gastroparesis, or pseudo-obstruction depending on whether lack of movement occurs in the stomach or intestine. Gastroparesis is often found in people with diabetes.
Continued high blood glucose levels can cause damage to the vagus nerve which controls the movement of food through the digestive tract.
Symptoms include heartburn, pain the upper abdomen area, nausea, vomiting, bloating and lack of appetite.
Treatment
Several medications may be used to treat gastroparesis. Different combinations might be tried until the most effective is found.
A dietitian will help to change your diet so you don’t become too full. High fat and high fibre foods are also removed from your diet.
If a liquid or pureed diet doesn't work, other feeding options will be explored. These include inserting a feeding tube or paranetal nutrition.
Research into the link between the central nervous system and the gut is being carried out by leading specialists at Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry to enhance patient care.
Click here to find out more about the Neurogastroenterolgy group working collaboratively as part of the Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry. The group strive to become a centre of excellence to enhance research and patient care.
