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Stomaphyx - Stomach
Surgery Without An Incision!
Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery has a very high
success rate! However, some patients may experience weight
regain or feel with more restriction they could continue to lose more
of their excess weight. In the past open surgery was used to
decrease the size of a dilated gastric pouch and
stoma. Revision surgery, by going back inside the
abdomen, has 
in most cases a higher risk of complications than the
original gastric bypass surgery. Using a fiberoptic gastroscope
(similiar to a colonscope for the colon), the esophagus and
stomach are easily accessed. The Stomaphyx device was designed to go down with the fiberoptic endoscope through the mouth then down the esophagus and into the stomach pouch. Once inside the stomach pouch, stomach plications (pleating) of the pouch are formed by using the stomaphyx device that places multiple fasteners between a fold of stomach pouch. The pouch is reduced in size and made less compliant (stiff).
Another great benefit of the
Stomaphyx device is that it can be repeated. Open or even
laparoscopic surgery has increasing risk if multiple revisions to the
gastric pouch were attempted. Endoscopic treatment through the mouth
and down the esophagus does not have the inherent risks seen with revision
surgery through the abdominal wall.
Patients who may
benefit:
-Gastric Bypass patients who are regaining
weight or want to lose more weight.
-Duodenal Switch patients who want
more restriction.
-Sleeve gastrectomy patients who want more
restriction in their remaining stomach.
-Stomach fistula or
leak.
-Severe dumping syndrome.
-Low
blood sugar (hypoglycemia) from late dumping.
Stomaphyx is an FDA approved device. There is
however, to date, no long-term results and no recommendation as to who can
benefit and what the results will be short and long-term. As a
surgeon who has been involved in this new field of transoral endscopic
surgery (no abdominal wall entry), I feel I can give you an honest
opinion about your current treatment options. While this is
considered minimally invasive surgery there are still risks. It is
hoped that these risks are less than open or laparoscopic surgery but this
may depend on the individual situation. Your Insurance company may
not pay for this therapy. My office staff will try to get approval
if possible from your insurance company. If you have questions about
this, please email Teresa Ly at tly2@jhmi.edu
Dr. Schweitzer was first in the world to perform and
publish a technique for endoscopic stoma reduction using transoral
endoscopic suturing. A great deal of attention is focused on the
future of transoral surgery to avoid abdominal incisions for routine
surgery (“No Scar Surgery”) and Dr. Schweitzer is one of the first to
apply this technology to bariatric patients.
© COPYRIGHT 2007 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Michael Schweitzer,
M.D. |
