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World J Gastrointest Pathophysiol. Feb 15, 2012; 3(1): 10-18
Published online Feb 15, 2012. doi: 10.4291/wjgp.v3.i1.10
Electrical bioimpedance and other techniques for gastric emptying and motility evaluation
María Raquel Huerta-Franco, Miguel Vargas-Luna, Juana Berenice Montes-Frausto, Corina Flores-Hernández, Ismael Morales-Mata
María Raquel Huerta-Franco, Corina Flores-Hernández, Ismael Morales-Mata, Health Science Division, Department of Applied Sciences to Work, University of Guanajuato, Av Eugenio Garza Sada 572, Lomas del Campestre, 37150 León, Guanajuato, México
Miguel Vargas-Luna, Juana Berenice Montes-Frausto, Science and Engineering Division, Department of Physical Engineering, University of Guanajuato, Loma del Bosque 103, Lomas del Campestre, 37150 León, Guanajuato, México
Author contributions: Huerta-Franco MR, Vargas-Luna M designed and conducted the study and wrote the manuscript; Morales-Mata I performed the data acquisition and instrumentation review; Montes-Frausto JB and Flores-Hernández C contributed to the data collection, reviewed the literature and provided analytical input.
Supported by Dirección de Apoyo a la Investigación y Posgrado, 2009-2010, University of Guanajuato
Correspondence to: María Raquel Huerta-Franco, PhD, Health Science Division, Department of Applied Sciences to Work, University of Guanajuato, Av Eugenio Garza Sada 572, Lomas del Campestre, 37150 León, Guanajuato, México. mrhuertafranco@ugto.mx
Telephone: +52-477-2569688 Fax: +52- 477-7885100
Received: August 27, 2011
Revised: December 6, 2011
Accepted: February 8, 2012
Published online: February 15, 2012
Abstract

The aim of this article is to identify non-invasive, inexpensive, highly sensitive and accurate techniques for evaluating and diagnosing gastric diseases. In the case of the stomach, there are highly sensitive and specific methods for assessing gastric motility and emptying (GME). However, these methods are invasive, expensive and/or not technically feasible for all clinicians and patients. We present a summary of the most relevant international information on non-invasive methods and techniques for clinically evaluating GME. We particularly emphasize the potential of gastric electrical bioimpedance (EBI). EBI was initially used mainly in gastric emptying studies and was essentially abandoned in favor of techniques such as electrogastrography and the gold standard, scintigraphy. The current research evaluating the utility of gastric EBI either combines this technique with other frequently used techniques or uses new methods for gastric EBI signal analysis. In this context, we discuss our results and those of other researchers who have worked with gastric EBI. In this review article, we present the following topics: (1) a description of the oldest methods and procedures for evaluating GME; (2) an explanation of the methods currently used to evaluate gastric activity; and (3) a perspective on the newest trends and techniques in clinical and research GME methods. We conclude that gastric EBI is a highly effective non-invasive, easy to use and inexpensive technique for assessing GME.

Keywords: Gastrointestinal motility; Gastric emptying; Bioimpedance technique; Diagnostic techniques; Digestive system