Therapeutic potentials of a novel method of dual-pulse gastric electrical stimulation for gastric dysrhythmia and symptoms of nausea and vomiting

Background The aims of this study were to investigate the effects and mechanisms of a novel method of gastric electrical stimulation on the prevention of vasopressin-induced emetic response and gastric dysrhythmias. Methods Fifteen dogs (10 normal, 5 vagotomized) chronically implanted with gastric serosal electrodes were used in a 3-session study (vasopressin, vasopressin plus 2-channel stimulation [DCS], and vasopressin plus dual-pulse stimulation [DPS]). Results Vasopressin induced gastric dysrhythmias and motion sickness–like symptoms (P < .05) and these effects were blocked partially with vagotomy. Both methods of DCS and DPS were capable of preventing vasopressin-induced gastric dysrhythmias (P < .05) and motion sickness–like symptoms (P < .05). The antiemetic effects of the proposed methods of DCS and DPS were abolished by vagotomy but their antidysrhythmic effects were not blocked by vagotomy. Conclusions DCS and DPS are able to reduce vasopressin-induced gastric dysrhythmia and symptoms of nausea and vomiting. The vagal pathway is involved in the antiemetic effect but not the antidysrhythmic effect of the proposed methods of stimulation.