Re: JSLS 2005;364 –367 Gastric Electrical Stimulation: A Novel Treatment for Gastroparesis

I found JSLS, Volume 9, Number 3 to be very informative. The fact that there were two articles [Gastric Electrical Stimulation: A Novel Treatment for Gastroparesis by de Csepel J, Shapsis A, Jordan C; and Laparoscopy Shortens Length of Stay in Patients With Gastric Electrical Stimulators by Al-Juburi A, Granger S, Barnes J, Voeller G, Beech D, Amiri H, Abell TL] on electrical stimulation for gastroparesis in a laparoscopic journal was unique to be sure. Drs de Csepel, Shapsis, and Jordan imply that they are the first to describe a laparoscopic method for placement of the gastric pacemaker. One only has to look at the article by Al-Juburi et al in the same issue to know that this is not the case. In addition, Drs de Csepel, Shapsis, and Jordan state on page 366 that this device was developed by Medtronic, Inc. This is only partly true. I feel it is very important to set the historical record straight on how this device was developed since many people over the years have taken credit that was not deserved.