Transcutaneous electrical acustimulation synchronized with inspiration improves gastric accommodation impaired by cold stress in healthy subjects.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate whether transcutaneous electrical acustimulation (TEA) synchronized with inspiration (STEA), a method known to enhance vagal activity, was more effective than TEA in improving cold stress-induced impairment in gastric accommodation (GA) and dyspeptic symptoms in healthy subjects.

METHODS: Each of fifteen healthy subjects was studied in five randomized sessions: control (warm nutrient liquid), cold nutrient liquid (CNL), CNL+sham-TEA, CNL+TEA, and CNL+STEA. The subjects were requested to drink Ensure until reaching maximum satiety. STEA was performed using the same parameters as TEA but asking the subjects to breathe in when they sensed each stimulation train. The electrogastrogram (EGG) and electrocardiogram (ECG) were recorded to assess gastric slow waves (GSW) and autonomic functions, respectively.

KEY RESULTS: GA was reduced with the CNL in comparison with the warm drink but increased with TEA and STEA; STEA was more potent than TEA in improving GA; STEA was more potent in improving GSW than TEA; STEA significantly increased vagal activity and decreased sympathetic activity compared with TEA.

CONCLUSIONS AND INFERENCES: TEA synchronized with inspiration is more potent than TEA in improving cold stress-induced impairment in GA and GSW and dyspeptic symptoms and might be a novel noninvasive therapy for treating stress-induced dysmotility and dyspeptic symptoms.