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Erythromycin stimulates phasic gastric contractility as assessed with an isovolumetric intragastric balloon pressure measurement
Author(s) -
Goelen Nick,
Tack Jan,
Janssen Pieter
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
neurogastroenterology and motility
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.489
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1365-2982
pISSN - 1350-1925
DOI - 10.1111/nmo.13991
Subject(s) - medicine , erythromycin , isovolumetric contraction , motility , gastric emptying , balloon , balloon catheter , stomach , anesthesia , gastroenterology , chemistry , blood pressure , biology , biochemistry , diastole , genetics , antibiotics
Background A novel technique to assess gastric motility by measuring the pressure in a low‐volume intragastric balloon was developed to monitor (disordered) motility. We previously showed that this technique allows measuring pharmacologically induced inhibition of motility. In this study, we assessed whether it is possible to measure pharmacologically induced stimulation of gastric motility using 200 mg erythromycin. Erythromycin is a highly effective stimulator of gastric emptying and contractility. Methods After an overnight fast, a nasogastric balloon catheter was introduced in healthy subjects. After inflation with 120 ml of air, the catheter was connected to a pressure sensor. Intraballoon pressure was continuously recorded for 4 h. After a baseline recording of 2 h, 200 mg erythromycin was infused intravenously over 20 min while the recording continued for 2 h. Epigastric symptoms were surveyed on 100‐mm visual analogue scales. Motility was quantified from the pressure recording as a gastric balloon motility index. Wilcoxon signed‐rank tests were performed. Data are shown as median (interquartile range). Key Results Six subjects were enrolled and five completed the procedures (age: 28 (25–29) years, body mass index: 24.0 (23.8–24.5) kg m −2 ). One subject could not tolerate tube placement. Bloating, nausea, and epigastric sensation scores were 0 (0–3), 0 (0–1), and 1 (0–1) mm, respectively. Erythromycin significantly increased the motility index from 0.48 (0.41–0.51) to 0.79 (0.70–0.82) ( p = 0.03). Conclusions and Inferences Gastric motility assessed via pressure measurement in a low‐volume intragastric balloon is able to detect pharmacologically stimulated motility in healthy subjects, which further validates this technique.