Treatment Options For Gastroparesis In St. Petersburg, FL
Gastroparesis treatment near St. Petersburg starts with one question: is your stomach actually emptying too slowly, and why? A short drive across the bay in Tampa, Dr. Gopal Grandhige treats gastroparesis with G-POEM (also called POP, per-oral pyloromyotomy), an incisionless endoscopic procedure that cuts the pyloric muscle to improve emptying. He is one of only a handful of physicians performing it in the Tampa Bay area. The work begins with confirming the diagnosis through objective testing, not with a procedure.
What G-POEM actually does
G-POEM improves stomach emptying by cutting the pyloric muscle, the valve between your stomach and small intestine, through an endoscope passed down the mouth, with no incisions on the abdomen. When the pylorus stays too tight, food can’t pass efficiently and stays in the stomach too long. That’s what drives the nausea, bloating, and early fullness.
During the procedure, a flexible endoscope creates a small tunnel under the pyloric muscle, and an endoscopic knife divides the muscle. Because there are no external incisions, hospital stays in published studies tend to run short, often one to a few days, and recovery is generally faster than open or laparoscopic surgery. G-POEM targets the same muscle as a surgical pyloroplasty but reaches it from the inside.
You can read more about how the pylorus and gastric emptying work on our gastroparesis condition page, including the other surgical options for severe cases.
Diagnosis comes first: the gastric emptying study
No procedure is recommended until delayed emptying is objectively confirmed, usually with a gastric emptying study. This is the most useful test for gastroparesis. You eat a light meal containing a small amount of radioactive material (eggs and toast, or oatmeal), and a scanner tracks how fast it leaves your stomach over four hours.
This matters because gastroparesis is commonly mistaken for GERD, IBS, or other overlapping conditions, and several conditions cause the same symptoms without delayed emptying. Operating on the wrong diagnosis is the most reliable way to get a poor result. An upper endoscopy is often done during the workup too; if food is still in the stomach hours after you last ate, that points toward delayed emptying. The diagnostic standard for gastroparesis testing is also detailed by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
Who G-POEM helps, and who it doesn’t
G-POEM is for refractory gastroparesis, meaning symptoms that persist after diet changes and medication have been optimized, not a first move. Current 2025 gastroparesis guidance from the American Gastroenterological Association recommends trying prokinetic medications like metoclopramide or erythromycin first, and reserving procedures such as G-POEM or gastric electrical stimulation for patients who remain symptomatic after a proper evaluation.
Treatment is usually escalated in steps. Many patients improve with smaller, frequent meals, well-cooked low-fat foods, and avoiding carbonation and alcohol. Medications are the next layer: prokinetics that speed emptying, plus anti-nausea options like ondansetron when needed. G-POEM enters the conversation when those steps fall short and testing confirms the pylorus is the problem. Pyloromyotomy is one escalation path; gastric electrical stimulation (a pacer) is a different one, and which fits depends on your testing and history. Patients with severe malnutrition may need nutritional support before any definitive procedure is safe.
This is the honest version of gastroparesis care: it’s a chronic condition, and treatment is aimed at controlling symptoms, not curing the disease. Setting that expectation up front is part of the job.
Why a foregut specialist, and not a general practice
Dr. Grandhige is a board-certified general surgeon, fellowship-trained in foregut and minimally invasive surgery, who has focused exclusively on esophagus, stomach, and diaphragm conditions in Tampa Bay since 2009. He completed his surgical residency and foregut fellowship at Yale–New Haven Hospital, earned his medical degree at the University of Michigan, and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, a member of SAGES, and a Founding Member of the American Foregut Society.
You can verify his board certification through the American Board of Surgery and the American College of Surgeons directories, and his license through the Florida Department of Health license lookup. A surgeon should welcome that scrutiny.
Care stays continuous, which matters more than it sounds. The same physician reviews your testing, performs the procedure, and oversees follow-up. A dedicated physician assistant assists in every case and is reachable when questions come up, and much of the office staff has worked with Dr. Grandhige for over a decade. All procedures are performed at HCA South Tampa Hospital, where the surgical team handles these cases routinely. If you also deal with reflux symptoms alongside gastroparesis (the two often overlap), his work on GERD and hiatal hernias comes from the same focused practice.
FAQS
An endoscopy cannot tell you if you have reflux. It can only tell you if you have complications of GERD.
If you are unhappy with your reflux symptoms, come in and we can discuss testing and treatments that can accurately diagnose your problem.
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If you have a hiatal hernia and fit one of these categories, you should know your options.
Dr. Grandhige is an expert in his field and performs 200 of these surgeries a year. He is the only surgeon in the Tampa Bay Area who offers all surgical options - LINX, Fundoplications, TIF and will be one of 20 surgeons in America introducing the latest procedure RefluxStop in 2026.
We accept most insurances but will verify yours before you come in. These procedures are considered medically necessary and covered by your insurance. You can expect to pay your in-network deductibles and nothing else.
#hiatalhernia #reflux #GERD #LINX #refluxstop
What causes reflux ?
1. Weak lower esophageal sphincter
2. Hiatal hernia
3. Flattening of the Angle of His
4. Poor esophageal motility
5. Gastroparesis (slow stomach)
NOT increased acid production
Don’t let GERD get in the way of living your life. Request your appointment with us today on the link below.
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https://tampareflux.com/contact-us/
Anyone can be victim to GERD and though weight loss can help reduce GERD symptoms. Many athletes with high impact workouts may continue to have these symptoms. This may be a symptom of a hiatal hernia or other issue. We are more then happy to assist you in finding your solution, just click the link below.
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https://tampareflux.com/contact-us/
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#nonsurgicalweightloss #ESG #gastricballoon #weightlossjourney #vsg #vsgjourney #spatz3 #orbera #orberaballoon #grandhige #DrG
#tampabayrefluxinstitute #guthealth #roboticsurgery
Heartburn may seem like an annoyance. But if you find yourself having symptoms on a daily basis, it may be time to to talk to Dr. Grandhige as it could be a symptom of something worse.
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#tampabayrefluxinstitute #guthealth #roboticsurgery
If you are tired of avoiding your favorite foods or taking daily medications, we can help.
We are the Tampa experts in reflux ! With years of experience and thousands of patients treated successfully, we offer all FDA approved anti-reflux procedures.
Call 813-922-2920 to schedule your appointment
All major insurances accepted.
Not all patients need surgical intervention. Many patients are living a heartburn free life with their PPIs. However 40% of patients taking PPIs are not getting the relief they need. If you are one of those, you have options! Come in and find out more.
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