The key difference between gastroparesis and dumping syndrome is that gastroparesis is a condition that occurs due to delayed gastric emptying while dumping syndrome is a condition that occurs due to an increased flux of food into the small bowel.
Gastric emptying is the process by which the contents of the stomach are moved into the duodenum. It takes place in three steps: peristaltic wave, systolic contractions of the antrum, and reduction in the size of the stomach. Gastroparesis and dumping syndrome are two medical conditions that evolve from a disturbed gastric emptying mechanism. They are also called gastric motility disorders and are very common in children.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Gastroparesis
3. What is Dumping Syndrome
4. Similarities – Gastroparesis and Dumping Syndrome
5. Gastroparesis vs Dumping Syndrome in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Gastroparesis vs Dumping Syndrome
What is Gastroparesis?
Gastroparesis is a medical condition that results from delayed gastric emptying. Gastroparesis is a chronic condition. In this condition, food passes through the stomach slower than usual, and the stomach cannot empty in the normal way. This usually occurs due to a problem with nerves and muscles that control stomach emptying. When the nerves are damaged, the muscles of the stomach may not work properly, and the movement of food can slow down. The symptoms of gastroparesis may include feeling full very quickly while eating, nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, weight loss, bloating, abdominal discomfort, and heartburn. These symptoms may be mild or severe. Moreover, they tend to come and go. The known causes of gastroparesis are poorly controlled type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes, a complication of some types of surgery (bariatric surgery), medicine (morphine and antidepressants), Parkinson’s disease, scleroderma, and amyloidosis.
Gastroparesis can be diagnosed through blood tests, barium X-rays, gastric emptying scans, wireless capsule tests, and endoscopy. Furthermore, the treatments for gastroparesis include dietary changes (taking small meals, taking soft and liquid foods, chewing food well before swallowing, and drinking non-fizzy drinks with each meal) and medicines (domperidone, erythromycin, and anti-emetics).
What is Dumping Syndrome?
Dumping syndrome is a condition occurring due to the increased flux of food into the small bowel. It is a condition in which some types of food, like food high in sugar, move from the stomach into the bowel very quickly after a meal. Sometimes, it is called rapid gastric emptying. The causes of dumping syndrome include surgeries like stomach or major esophageal surgery (which removes esophagus). However, dumping syndrome can also develop without a history of surgery or other obvious causes. The symptoms of dumping syndrome include feeling bloated, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhoea, flushing, dizziness, light-headedness, rapid heart rate, sweating, and weakness.
Moreover, dumping syndrome can be diagnosed through medical history and evaluation, blood sugar tests, and gastric emptying tests. Furthermore, the treatment options for dumping syndrome medications (octreotide), reconstructing of the pylorus or surgery to reverse gastric bypass surgery, lifestyle and home remedies (eating smaller meals, lying down after meals, drinking most fluid between meals, drinking 6 to 8 cups, changing the diet, increasing fiber intake, reducing the alcohol intake).
What are the Similarities Between Gastroparesis and Dumping Syndrome?
- Gastroparesis and dumping syndrome are two medical conditions that evolve from a disturbed gastric emptying mechanism.
- These are also known as gastric motility disorders
- They are very common in children.
- Both these conditions can be diagnosed through normal blood tests.
- They are mainly treated through dietary and lifestyle changes.
What is the Difference Between Gastroparesis and Dumping Syndrome?
Gastroparesis is a condition resulting from delayed gastric emptying while dumping syndrome is a condition resulting from the increased flux of food into the small bowel. Thus, this is the key difference between gastroparesis and dumping syndrome. Furthermore, the causes of gastroparesis are poorly controlled type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes, a complication of some types of surgery (bariatric surgery), medicine (morphine and antidepressants), Parkinson’s disease, scleroderma, and amyloidosis. On the other hand, the causes of dumping syndrome include surgeries like stomach or major esophageal surgery (which removes the esophagus).
The below infographic presents the differences between gastroparesis and dumping syndrome in tabular form for side by side comparison.
Summary – Gastroparesis vs Dumping Syndrome
Gastroparesis and dumping syndrome are two medical conditions that evolve from a disturbed gastric emptying mechanism. They are also classified as gastric motility disorders. Though they are not life-threatening conditions, they may cause considerable impairment to the quality of life. Gastroparesis occurs due to delayed gastric emptying while dumping syndrome occurs due to increased flux of food into the small bowel. So, this summarises the difference between gastroparesis and dumping syndrome.
Reference:
1. “Gastroparesis.” NHS Choices, NHS.
2. “Dumping Syndrome: Diagnosis, Treatment, Symptoms & Causes.” Cleveland Clinic.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Diagram showing the position of the small bowel CRUK 360” By Cancer Research UK – Original email from CRUK (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia