daup h i n c m s .o rg GASTROPARESIS By KEVIN C. WESTRA, DO G astroparesis is a condition in which the stomach has difficulty emptying itself of food in a normal way in the absence of a mechanical obstruction. Patients with gastroparesis present with nausea and vomiting 80-90% of the time. Other symptoms include abdominal pain, fullness after eating, bloating and weight loss. Early satiety, feeling full after eating a small amount of food, is a hallmark symptom of this condition. Although gastroparesis can produce abdominal pain, it is rarely the predominant symptom. In patients whose predominant symptom is abdominal pain, other causes of the pain should be investigated. Continued on page 26 Central PA Medicine Summer 2017 25http://www.dauphincms.org