Gastroparesis, also called delayed gastric emptying, is a disorder in which the stomach takes too long to empty its contents, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This contraction process is coordinated by messages from the brain via the vagus nerve. Although gastroparesis likely has multiple origins, there is significant evidence that gastroparesis occurs when the vagus nerve is damaged. This can occur as a complication of diabetes, surgery and other diseases. [read more]