Form and Its Nonlinear Analysis for the Use of Electrogastrogram as a Gastrointestinal Motility Test

Conventional gastrointestinal motility tests cause pain; therefore, newer noninvasive methods are desired. Noninvasive methods facilitate the measurement of motility close to the normal physiological state, provide new valid findings, and may contribute to the development of associated fields. Electrogastrography (EGG) measures the electrical activity of the stomach through electrodes placed over the abdomen, which is primarily rhythmical. Compared with other gastrointestinal motility measurement methods such as the gastric emptying and internal pressure measurement, EGG is noninvasive and allows measurement under minimum restriction and therefore, allows prolonged measurement. In addition, since EGG measures gastrointestinal electric activity, which cannot be quantified using other methods, it can be used for the evaluation of the state of the body and pathological condition, and may provide new findings such as those useful for the prevention of gastrointestinal dysfunction associated with various disorders. EGG is also useful for preventing disorders associated with abnormal gastrointestinal activity such as functional dyspepsia, which has become frequent in recent years, and constipation, which is an extremely frequent complaint in the elderly. Thus, EGG is of marked importance in public health. However, the range of EGG application is still limited. Therefore, we outlined the measurement/analysis methods, listed advantages and disadvantages of EGG and electrogastroenterography (EGEG), described their clinical importance, and commented on studies at the forefront on form and its nonlinear analysis by EGG. We also evaluated the prospects of EGG.