For patients living with severe gastroparesis, daily symptoms such as persistent nausea, vomiting, bloating, and early fullness can significantly affect quality of life. When medications and diet changes are no longer effective, Enterra Therapy may offer a new option for symptom relief.
At Heartland Weight Loss Clinic in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, our team provides evaluation and treatment options for patients suffering from difficult-to-manage gastroparesis, including gastric electrical stimulation with Enterra Therapy.
What Is Gastroparesis?
Gastroparesis is a digestive condition in which the stomach empties food more slowly than normal. Normally, the stomach muscles contract to move food into the small intestine. With gastroparesis, these contractions become weak or irregular, causing food to remain in the stomach longer than it should.
Common symptoms may include:
- Chronic nausea
- Frequent vomiting
- Feeling full quickly when eating
- Bloating or abdominal discomfort
- Loss of appetite
- Difficulty maintaining proper nutrition1
The condition is often associated with diabetes, but it can also occur without a known cause.
How Enterra Therapy Works
The Enterra system includes three primary components:
- Neurostimulator: A small device implanted beneath the skin in the abdomen
- Leads: Thin wires that connect the device to the stomach muscles
- External programmer: A device your physician uses to adjust stimulation settings without additional surgery
Once implanted, the neurostimulator sends controlled electrical signals to the stomach to help reduce nausea and vomiting symptoms. Your physician can adjust the stimulation level during follow-up visits to optimize therapy for your needs.
A small neurostimulator that’s implanted under the skin
Two wires, called “leads”, that connect the neurostimulator to the stomach muscles
Enterra handheld, external programming device
What to Expect During the Procedure
Enterra Therapy is implanted during a minimally invasive surgical procedure performed under general anesthesia. During the procedure:
Most procedures take approximately one to three hours, and many patients return home within a day of surgery.
What Is Recovery Like After Enterra Therapy?
Recovery after Enterra Therapy implantation is typically straightforward. The procedure is performed under general anesthesia, and most patients remain in the hospital for observation for about one night before returning home.
In the first few weeks after surgery, patients may experience mild soreness around the incision sites as the body heals. During this time, your physician may recommend avoiding heavy lifting or strenuous activity while the implanted device and leads settle into place.
Follow-up visits are an important part of recovery. During these appointments, your physician can adjust the stimulation settings using an external programming device to help optimize symptom control. Because Enterra Therapy works gradually for many patients, it may take several weeks to determine the most effective settings.
Who May Be a Candidate for Enterra Therapy?
Enterra Therapy may be considered for adults who:
- Have gastroparesis caused by diabetes or unknown causes
- Experience persistent nausea and vomiting
- Have not found relief with medications and diet changes
Your physician will perform a thorough evaluation to determine whether gastric electrical stimulation may be appropriate for your condition.
Enterra Therapy Consultation
in Cape Girardeau, MO
If you are struggling with severe gastroparesis symptoms and have not found relief with traditional treatments, Enterra Therapy may be worth exploring.
At Heartland Weight Loss Clinic, we help patients throughout Cape Girardeau and Southeast Missouri evaluate advanced treatment options for complex digestive conditions.
Contact our office today to schedule a consultation and learn whether Enterra Therapy may be right for you.
1 Mayo Clinic. Gastroparesis. Available: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gastroparesis/symptoms-causes/syc-20355787. Accessed March 10, 2026.