Specialist care with Dr. Michael Hughes
Gastroparesis Treatment in Ohio, Kentucky & Indiana
Evaluation, treatment options & ongoing support
Gastroparesis delays stomach emptying without a physical blockage. JourneyLite offers evaluation, medical and nutritional care, laparoscopic pyloroplasty, and Enterra® gastric electrical stimulation with board-certified general surgeon Dr. Michael Hughes.
Care starts with your symptoms, nutrition, testing, and response to previous treatment. Surgery is considered individually when appropriate nonsurgical care has not provided enough relief.
Louisville · Northern Kentucky · Cincinnati · Columbus · Dayton · Indianapolis
Meet your specialist
Meet Dr. Hughes,
gastroparesis surgeon.
Dr. Michael Hughes is a board-certified general surgeon whose practice centers on gastroparesis. He developed his interest in the condition while caring for pancreas transplant patients, then expanded that work at the University of Louisville with gastric stimulation specialist Dr. Thomas Abell.
In 2019, he founded Vanguard Surgical to concentrate on gastroparesis. He also advises and trains surgeons in gastric stimulator placement and management as a consultant to Enterra Medical.
His earlier work included pancreas transplantation and total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation for chronic pancreatitis. That experience informs his approach to complex digestive conditions.
Biography adapted from Vanguard Surgical. Pancreatic procedures are included as previous clinical experience.
Conditions & symptoms
Gastroparesis &
related symptoms.
Gastroparesis slows stomach emptying without a mechanical blockage. Dr. Hughes evaluates the diagnosis, symptoms, prior treatments, and possible contributing factors.
Gastroparesis
- Diabetic gastroparesisDelayed stomach emptying associated with diabetes.
- Idiopathic gastroparesisGastroparesis with no identified cause.
- Symptoms after surgery or associated with medicationsEvaluation of prior abdominal or esophageal surgery and medicines that may affect stomach emptying.
- Persistent symptoms after treatmentReassessment after medication, G-POEM, another pyloric intervention, or an existing gastric stimulator.
The problems that affect daily life
- Nausea & vomiting
- Upper abdominal pain
- Bloating
- Feeling full too soon
- Fullness after meals
- Difficulty tolerating food
Looking at the whole picture
Reflux and heartburn, constipation and IBS symptoms, and nutrition concerns may be addressed alongside gastroparesis.
When indicated, Dr. Hughes investigates possible autoimmune gastrointestinal dysmotility (AGID) and contributing autoimmune disease.
Sources: Gastroparesis, medical management, Dr. Hughes’s approach, and referral guidance.
Procedures & treatments
Gastroparesis treatment
& surgical options.
Treatment can include nutrition support, medication, surgery, and long-term device management. Recommendations depend on your evaluation and response to previous care.
| Treatment | May be considered for | Goal & limitations |
|---|---|---|
| Nutrition & medication | Initial treatment and continuing support, tailored to symptoms and nutritional needs. | Support food intake and manage symptoms. Medicines have different benefits and side effects. |
| Laparoscopic pyloroplasty | Selected patients with persistent symptoms after medical care, following evaluation of the stomach outlet. | Widen the pylorus to aid passage into the intestine. Symptom relief varies; surgery does not cure every cause of gastroparesis. |
| Enterra® gastric stimulation | Selected patients ages 18–70 with diabetic or idiopathic gastroparesis and medication-resistant nausea and vomiting. | Target nausea and vomiting. It does not reliably improve stomach emptying; ongoing programming is needed. See the humanitarian-device notice below. |
| Existing stimulator care | Patients needing device assessment, programming, battery replacement, or evaluation of complications. | Assess device function and treatment response. Revision or removal may be needed in some cases. |
The 2025 AGA guideline advises against routine gastric stimulation and identifies an evidence gap for surgical pyloroplasty. These are options for a carefully selected, individualized discussion, not automatic next steps.
Pyloroplasty
Widens the pylorus, the opening between the stomach and small intestine, to help food pass through. Dr. Hughes considers this option for selected patients with persistent gastroparesis symptoms, including fullness, bloating, and upper abdominal pain.
His practice also evaluates patients whose symptoms continue after G-POEM or another pyloric treatment.
Explore pyloroplastyGastric electrical stimulation
Laparoscopic placement of an Enterra® gastric stimulator and stomach-wall leads for selected patients with persistent nausea and vomiting despite medical treatment.
Ongoing programming tailors device settings to symptoms. Stimulation does not reliably speed stomach emptying.
Explore gastric stimulationGastric stimulator
procedures & follow-up
- Device checks & programmingIn-person assessment and adjustment of stimulation settings.
- Generator replacementReplacement when the battery reaches end of service.
- Lead revision, replacement or removalCare for damaged, eroded, or poorly functioning leads.
- Generator pocket revision & re-anchoringCorrection of selected position or anchoring problems.
- Management of device complicationsIncluding surgical washout or device removal when necessary.
- Gastric wall biopsy during placementTissue sampling to assess stomach-wall cells, nerves, and scarring.
Learn more about gastric stimulator follow-up and revision procedures.
Enterra has FDA authorization under a Humanitarian Device Exemption for chronic, medication-resistant nausea and vomiting caused by diabetic or idiopathic gastroparesis in patients ages 18–70. Effectiveness for this use has not been demonstrated. Candidacy, risks, and potential benefits require an individual discussion. Manufacturer’s device information.
Care beyond surgery
Medical & nutritional management
Food tolerance & nutrition
Individualized dietary changes, smaller meals, food texture adjustments, protein intake, and dietitian support to help maintain nutrition.
How nutrition care worksSymptom & motility treatment
Medication review and management may include prokinetics, anti-nausea medicines, acid suppression, and treatment for accompanying constipation or IBS symptoms.
How medication care worksReassessment & ongoing care
Review of treatment response, postoperative recovery, and existing device concerns, with further evaluation when symptoms persist.
Prepare for your consultationWhat your treatment plan may include
Nutrition and food tolerance
Smaller meals and changes in texture, fat, or fiber may make eating more manageable. Nutrition care also considers hydration, protein, calories, and unintended weight loss. Your plan should fit your symptoms and nutritional needs; severe difficulty maintaining intake may require additional support.
Medication and contributing conditions
Your clinician reviews medicines that may slow emptying, treatment side effects, and blood glucose management when diabetes is present. Prokinetic medicines aim to help stomach movement; anti-nausea medicines target nausea and vomiting. These have different roles, and treatment is adjusted to your response. Do not change prescription medicines without your prescribing clinician.
Bring the information that guides a decision
Bring your gastric emptying study, endoscopy and imaging reports, medication list, previous operation reports, and any implanted-device information. Describe which symptoms interfere most with eating and daily life, and which treatments helped or caused problems. A properly performed four-hour gastric emptying study helps evaluate delayed emptying; symptoms alone do not establish the diagnosis.
Patient information: NIDDK treatment overview and diagnostic evaluation.
Your next step
Request an appointment
with Dr. Michael Hughes.
Choose your preferred office for gastroparesis care. Our patient service team will contact you to coordinate your visit.
Prefer to call? 877-442-2263
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Six places to see Dr. Hughes
Gastroparesis care in
Kentucky, Ohio & Indiana.
Dr. Hughes will see patients in Louisville, Northern Kentucky, Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton, and Indianapolis. This includes every JourneyLite office and his original Louisville office at Vanguard Surgical.
Louisville
Vanguard Surgical
2401 Terra Crossing Boulevard, Suite 375Louisville, KY 40245Louisville office details
Northern Kentucky
Crestview Hills office
320 Thomas More ParkwayCrestview Hills, KY 41017Northern Kentucky office details
Cincinnati
Cincinnati main office
10475 Reading Road, Suite 117Cincinnati, OH 45241Cincinnati office details
Columbus
Grove City office
2041 Stringtown RoadGrove City, OH 43123Columbus office details
Dayton
Moraine office
2621 Dryden RoadMoraine, OH 45439Dayton office details
Indianapolis
Greenwood office
33 E. County Line Road, Suite EGreenwood, IN 46143Indianapolis office details
Request an appointment at your preferred office. When you contact us, ask for Dr. Hughes and tell us your preferred office. The team will confirm his appointment dates, visit type, and location. If surgery is recommended, your care team will confirm the surgical facility separately.
Addresses and office phone numbers: JourneyLite locations and Vanguard Surgical’s Louisville office.
Common questions
Gastroparesis treatment: frequently asked questions
Am I a candidate for a gastric stimulator?
Enterra’s humanitarian-device indication covers chronic, medication-resistant nausea and vomiting from diabetic or idiopathic gastroparesis in patients ages 18–70. Meeting those criteria does not automatically make someone a candidate. Evaluation includes your diagnosis, previous treatments, predominant symptoms, and ability to undergo surgery and follow-up. The device’s effectiveness for this use has not been demonstrated. Read about gastric stimulation and candidacy.
Does insurance cover gastroparesis surgery?
Coverage depends on your plan, the proposed procedure, medical-necessity criteria, and any prior authorization. Coverage for an office consultation does not establish coverage for surgery, the implant, anesthesia, or a surgical facility. Before treatment, ask the scheduling team and insurer to verify benefits, network participation, referral requirements, and expected out-of-pocket costs. An appointment request is not a coverage determination.
How is pyloroplasty different from a gastric stimulator?
Pyloroplasty surgically widens the stomach outlet. Gastric stimulation uses implanted leads and a generator to target persistent nausea and vomiting, without reliably speeding stomach emptying. They address different treatment goals and may be discussed separately or as part of an individualized plan. Compare the treatment options.
Can gastroparesis be cured with surgery?
No procedure guarantees a cure. Treatment aims to improve symptoms, nutrition, and daily function, and some patients continue to need dietary changes, medication, or additional treatment. Your specialist will discuss realistic goals and the uncertainties for your situation.
Is Dr. Michael Hughes a gastroenterologist or a surgeon?
Dr. Michael Hughes is a board-certified general surgeon whose practice focuses on gastroparesis. His care includes medical and nutritional management, laparoscopic pyloroplasty, gastric electrical stimulation, and ongoing gastric stimulator care.
Does a consultation mean I need surgery?
No. Evaluation includes your symptoms, nutrition, medications, and previous treatment. Surgery may be considered when appropriate medical treatment has not provided sufficient relief or cannot be tolerated. Learn about medical and nutritional care.
What if I have already had G-POEM?
Persistent symptoms after G-POEM can be reassessed. Dr. Hughes evaluates whether another intervention may be appropriate. The next step depends on your symptoms, previous treatment, and clinical evaluation. Learn about pyloroplasty.
What records are useful for a consultation?
Helpful records include clinical notes, medication and procedure history, an upper GI series or upper endoscopy report, and your gastric emptying study. A four-hour solid-food gastric emptying study is generally preferred for evaluating delayed emptying. Prepare for your consultation.
Where will Dr. Michael Hughes see patients?
Dr. Hughes will see patients at JourneyLite’s Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky (Crestview Hills), Columbus (Grove City), Dayton (Moraine), and Indianapolis (Greenwood) offices, as well as his original Louisville office at 2401 Terra Crossing Boulevard, Suite 375, Louisville, KY 40245. Ask for Dr. Hughes when scheduling so the team can confirm his availability at your preferred office.
What gastroparesis procedures does Dr. Hughes offer?
His gastroparesis procedures include laparoscopic pyloroplasty, gastric electrical stimulator implantation, generator replacement, lead revision or removal, and generator pocket revision. He also provides device checks and programming, evaluation of device complications, and gastric wall biopsy during stimulator placement. Treatment depends on an individual evaluation.
Will Dr. Hughes continue seeing patients in Louisville?
Yes. Dr. Hughes will see patients at his original Vanguard Surgical office in Louisville as well as all five JourneyLite locations. The Louisville office is at 2401 Terra Crossing Boulevard, Suite 375, Louisville, KY 40245. Call 502-912-8300 for Louisville office information.
How do I request an appointment with Dr. Hughes?
Complete the gastroparesis appointment request form or call JourneyLite at 877-442-2263. Choose your preferred office and tell us how to contact you. The team will confirm appointment availability, referral requirements, and insurance participation.