Electrical Stimulation of the GI Tract

Electrical stimulation of the gastrointestinal tract is an exciting field with many potential applications. Currently gastric stimulation for gastroparesis and sacral nerve stimulation for fecal incontinence are FDA approved for use in adults with only a handful of pediatric studies related to these two applications. Initial studies of electrical stimulation of the lower esophageal sphincter demonstrate great promise as a new treatment for GERD in adults, but the device is awaiting the start of an FDA trial and no pediatric studies have been performed to date.