**** G-PACT Knowledge Base**** 

The Vagus Nerve is a major nerve located in the lower part of the
brain in the brainstem.  It has the most extensive distribution of
nerves from the brain. It reaches areas of the chest and abdomen, as
well as the head and neck.

Some fibers of the Vagus Nerve are important to the function of
several major organs in the body including the larynx, trachea,
bronchi, lungs, aorta, esophagus, and stomach. A few of the functions
affected by this nerve are coughing, sneezing, and the sensation of
hunger.  Other motor fibers of the Vagus nerve affect swallowing,
speech, and secretions from the glands of the stomach and the
pancreas.  They also affect contractions of the trachea (windpipe),
bronchi, and bronchioles.  In the abdomen, these motor fibers are
part of the stomach, pancreas, small intestine, large intestine and
colon. Their function is these organs is for secretion and smooth
muscle constriction.

Because the Vagus nerve controls the motor function in the upper part
of the digestive tract, if it is damaged, the muscles of the stomach
and intestines do not work normally, and the movement of food is
slowed or stopped resulting in what we know today as Gastroparesis


****Spotlight Patient**** 

Our March, 2003 Spotlight Patient is Les Kelley.  Les is 52 years old
and resides in Oregon .  Les's battle with Gastroparesis began about 4
years ago when he began suffering from nausea and was unable to keep
food down.  He was then diagnosed with diabetes. Since the nausea
continued his doctor ordered a Gastric Emptying Scan (GES).  The
results were Gastroparesis.  As his nausea didn't go away, more tests
were taken and he was told he had a dysfunctional gallbladder and had
it removed.  He has since been told that his Vagus nerve was
permanently damaged due to the diabetes and was referred to a
specialist at the Oregon Health and Sciences University in Portland
who confirmed that the damage to the Vagus nerve was permanent. The
specialist there prescribed Marinol and now after 4 years Les has
finally found some relief.  He has also been told that he now faces
the possibility of having to have a gastric pacer.  He continues his
battle with GP but says since he didn't develop it until later in
life he was lucky to have led a healthy life up until 4 years ago. He
feels so compassionate about all the younger ones who have their
whole life ahead of them to fight.

To read more about Les, our spotlight patient, please go to www.g-
pact.org and find him in the "Spotlight Patient" section of the G-
PACT website. This page also includes a place for people to nominate
a spotlight patient as well as read about previous spotlight patients
and their stories.     

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