Enterra: A New Hope for People Living with Gastroparesis

By Dr. Robert Catania, Southern NH Weight Management 

As a surgeon working in a nonprofit healthcare system, my goal is to improve the health of my patients and our community. At Southern New Hampshire Health, we are committed to bringing advanced care close to our patients so they do not have to travel out of the area for cutting-edge treatment. That is why I am proud to offer Enterra Therapy to our patients who are living with severe gastroparesis. 

Gastroparesis impacts 1-3% of individuals in the United States and can become overwhelming. Many suffering from this condition deal with constant nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, bloating, and difficulty eating. In severe cases, patients may need repeated hospital stays because they cannot keep food down or stay properly nourished. 

Treating patients with complex digestive and weight-related conditions has shown me firsthand how much gastroparesis can affect a person’s quality of life. To help meet the needs of patients with gastroparesis, Southern New Hampshire Health is now the only health system in New Hampshire that currently provides this treatment.

What is gastroparesis? 

Gastroparesis is a condition where the stomach empties food too slowly. Normally, this is a complex process involving the brain, nervous system, and stomach muscles working together to begin the process of digestion. In patients with gastroparesis, this system breaks down, and the stomach doesn’t empty properly. 

This can cause symptoms such as: 

• Chronic nausea 
• Vomiting 
• Abdominal pain 
• Feeling full after only a few bites 
• Weight loss 
• Malnutrition 
• Blood sugar problems in patients with diabetes 

Gastroparesis occurs in patients for several reasons. Diabetes is the most common cause, but some people develop the condition after surgery, while others never learn the exact cause. 

Enterra is a new treatment option for gastroparesis 

For many people, treatment starts with diet changes and medication. Eating smaller meals, avoiding certain foods, and taking medications to help stomach emptying can improve symptoms. Unfortunately, some patients continue to suffer despite trying these treatments. 

That is where Enterra Therapy may help. The Enterra Therapy System is a small device that is surgically implanted beneath the skin of the abdomen. Thin wires connect the device to the stomach muscles, where it delivers gentle electrical pulses designed to reduce chronic nausea and vomiting. 

While Enterra Therapy is not a cure for gastroparesis, the device has helped many patients who did not respond to medications or dietary changes alone. 

What patients can expect 

The Enterra implantation procedure is minimally invasive and usually takes one hour under general anesthesia. The surgery is performed using small incisions with laparoscopic techniques, and a small incision is made to implant the gastric stimulator. 

Most patients can go home the same day or may remain for an overnight stay. 

One important benefit of Enterra Therapy is that the device can be adjusted after surgery without another procedure in order to optimize the level of stimulation based on each patient’s symptoms and response to treatment. 

Unlike some other surgical options, the therapy is also reversible if the patient’s symptoms are not improved. 

A team approach to care 

At Southern NH Weight Management, we believe gastroparesis treatment works best with a team approach. Enterra Therapy is often combined with: 

• Nutrition counseling 
• Medication management 
• Dietary changes 
• Endoscopic or surgical pyloric therapies 

Our goal is to help patients regain comfort, improve nutrition, and get back to the activities they enjoy most. 

Gastroparesis can be physically and emotionally exhausting. Many patients feel isolated because their symptoms affect every part of daily life, from eating meals with family to going to work or traveling. Seeing patients regain confidence and independence after treatment is one of the most rewarding parts of my work. 

Looking ahead 

To date, more than 15,000 patients worldwide have received Enterra Therapy, and research over the last two decades continues to support use for carefully selected patients with severe gastroparesis. Southern New Hampshire Medical Center in Nashua, New Hampshire, is currently the only hospital in the state providing this treatment. 

If you or a loved one has gastroparesis and symptoms are not improving with medication or diet changes, I encourage you to make an appointment to discuss whether Enterra Therapy may be an option. Call Southern NH Weight Management at 603-577-3275. 

Learn more 

 Dr. Robert Catania studied medicine at Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia, PA. He completed his residency at Brown University Rhode Island Hospital in Providence, RI. Dr. Catania is fellowship-trained in minimally invasive and bariatric surgery from the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore, MD. He has been practicing bariatric surgery since 2007. Since then, he has performed over 1,500 bariatric procedures. He is the Chief Surgical Officer at Southern New Hampshire Medical Center and practices at Southern NH Weight Management and Foundation Surgery in Nashua, New Hampshire.