Managing motility disorders of the gastrointestinal segment and obesity through electrical stimulation.

Gastric electrical stimulation is a minimally invasive and alternative treatment modality for patients suffering from motility disorders and obesity. The idea of inducing motility and correcting dysrhythmia by the application of an appropriate stimulation (also referred to as electrical stimulation) has gained interest among the clinicians. Injecting current at the acupuncture points via needle (electroacupuncture) or surface electrodes (transcutaneous electroacupuncture) is an emerging field of study for motility disorders. With reference to the clinical studies, the usefulness of the method is considered for their efficacy in symptomatic control and disease management. Although electrical stimulation is shown be a promising technology in the recent years, their use as a treatment option is not encouraging since the mechanism of action and efficacy on reducing symptoms is not clear. A multilateral study involving theoretical modelling and computer simulation proves useful in understanding the mechanisms involved in the therapeutics. In this article, we review the electrical stimulation as an alternative approach for management of the patients suffering from motility dysfunctions and obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]