The gastroparesis cardinal symptom index, GCSI, is a calculated score to assess gastroparesis symptom severity. Several studies have confirmed its validity and reliability in assessing symptom severity and response to treatment.
GCSI is a composite score of nine symptoms grouped into three categories: nausea/vomiting, postprandial fullness, and bloating.
- Nausea
- Retching
- Vomiting
- Stomach fullness
- Early satiety
- Feeling excessively full after meals
- Loss of appetite
- Bloating
- Visibly larger belly
Each symptom is reported according to a severity scale ranging from 0 to 5:
- No symptom
- Very mild
- Mild
- Moderate
- Severe
- Very severe
GCSI score is calculated as an average score of all 3 symptom categories. It is useful to evaluate gastroparesis treatment effectiveness. At Houston heartburn and reflux Center, we offer laparoscopic antrum preserving longitudinal gastrectomy for medically refractory gastroparesis. The procedure is associated with 100% percent symptom resolution including nausea, vomiting and bloating. Meal size after antrum preserving longitudinal gastrectomy is small because stomach volume is reduced. Patients, however, tolerate multiple small meals a day without any discomfort. Consequently, patients can stop TPN, and tube feeding and regain body weight.