What is EGG
The 3CPM® Company’s Electrogastrography/Electroviscerography (EGG/EVG ) Systems is a class II medical device that records, stores, analyzes, displays and prints the myoelectric signals from the stomach and gastrointestinal system as an aid to diagnosis of various gastric and gastrointestinal motility disorders.
The EGG/EVG is a non-invasive test of gastric myoelectrical activity of the digestive system. The EGG/EVG reflects the stomach’s pacesetter potential activities, much like the electrocardiogram (ECG) reflects electrical events occurring in the heart. It does this by looking at the activity of pacemaker cells of the gastrointestinal system known as ICCs. The performance of an EGG does not require pre-medication and has no significant side effects.
In particular, it allows the doctor to divide disorders of stomach motility into different subtypes based upon the energy detected during peristalsis or contraction of the smooth muscle of the gastrointestinal tract. Known as the EGG/EVG signal, it is an energy recording of what is called myoelectrical activity or GMA.. Once the subtypes of GMA are known, it is then possible to diagnosis your illness more specific to your body’s physiology. Once compared to the information from healthy normal people, your physician is able to select treatments that are designed specifically for you. This may allow for your illness to be better controlled or in some cases even cured. This is known as personalized medicine.
Hear Real Stories from our Patients
An Electrogastrogram/Electroviscerogram is Indicated for Patients Who Have:
- Gastroparesis
- Unexplained nausea, vomiting, bloating, early satiety
- Unexplained or functional dyspepsia
- Chronic GERD
In its position paper on nausea and vomiting, the American Gastroenterological Association included Electrogastrogram in its algorithm for the evaluation and management of nausea. Optimum use of this device requires a basic familiarity with the published literature which describes typical EGG patterns commonly encountered in clinical practice with specific patient groups and related interpretative techniques.
The secret of the technology is the Human Interface Module or HID. Inside of the device are special filters that have characteristic amplifiers to allow detection of biological signals with approximate frequency ranges from 1 to 200 cycles per minute (cpm) to pass through for recording and digitization.
To see how the EGG/EVG is performed please click here.
The Electrogastrogram Data Is Presented In Four Major Frequency Ranges
- Normal (2.5 to 3.75 cpm)
- Bradygastria (1.0-2.5 cpm)
- Tachygastria (3.75-10.0 cpm)
- Duodenal-Respiratory (10.0-15 cpm)
How it Helps Disease: You May Have a Curable Form Of Gastroparesis
Of the estimated 40 million Americans that suffer from this disease, 25-28% have a subtype that may be cured with simple endoscopic balloon dilation.
Gastroparesis
Gastroparesis may be divided into subtypes that include obstructive, reflux related, and poor conduction types. Only the EGG can properly identify the type of dysmotility and lead to either correction or proper treatment and control. In obstructive subtypes, 3CPM® Company EGG GMAT® software successfully predicts a 93% response to endoscopic pyloric balloon dilation.
Read Case Study 1: Use Of Electrogastrography In The Detection Of Functional Pyloric Outlet Obstruction- Read Case Study 2: Gastric Outlet Obstruction In A Physically Active, Young Woman
GERD- Reflux Disease
Up to 40-45% of people who suffer from GERD have gastroparesis and symptoms of bloating and satiety. Associated EGG definable subtypes include functional obstruction and reflux related or GERD+. Reflux related subtypes are cured with correction of the GERD, while obstructive subtypes require pyloric therapy. Obstructive subtypes require resolution prior to correction of reflux to avoid potential complications.
- Read Case Study: Reflux-Related Dyspepsia or Gerd+ In Middle-Aged Man
Nausea, Vomiting and Dyspepsia
These symptoms are often due to poor conduction associated to low numbers of ICCs. The quality of the 3CPM signal correlates directly with quality and numbers of the ICC’s. Normal ICC quality correlates directly with the success of therapy like medication or the Enterra stimulator for gastroparesis. If poor ICC’s are noted, then therapy is directed towards restoration of the ICC’s.
- Read Case Study: Chronic Dyspepsia In a Middle-Aged Woman With Normal Gastric Emptying