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Treatment

StomaphyX

StomaphyX

StomaphyX^® is an option for patients who have already undergone weight loss surgery and who:

• Need a little help for continuing weight loss
• Have experienced some weight regain
• Are suffering from heartburn/reflux
• Are experiencing severe dumping syndrome (including symptomatic hypoglycemia and diarrhea)

Q:    What is StomaphyX^®

A:    StomaphyX^® is an innovative surgical device for performing incisionless gastric pouch reduction post bariatric surgery. Without any external incisions or internal dissection, StomaphyX^® creates durable, full thickness tissue folds in the gastric pouch to reduce its total volume, typically as much as 50-70%. A smaller, less compliant pouch slows the flow of food into the intestine, returning the feeling of satiety, which when combined with a healthy eating and exercise program can lead to weight loss.

Q:    What is the procedure like?

A:    A completely incisionless procedure, the StomaphyX^® procedure is performed safely, quickly, and with minimal patient downtime. The procedure is called a Natural Orifice Surgery (NOS) procedure because the StomaphyX^® device is introduced into the body through the mouth, rather than through an abdominal incision. The advantages of incisionless surgery over laparoscopic or open surgery include shorter hospital stay, reduced patient discomfort, shortened patient recovery, no visible scars, and typically higher patient satisfaction.

Q:    How is the procedure performed?

A:    Performed under general anesthesia, the StomaphyX^® device is introduced into the body transorally (through the mouth) and advanced into the gastric pouch under visualization of a video camera inserted down the central shaft of the device. Once inside the pouch, a small section of tissue is suctioned into a port on the StomaphyX^® device and fastened with a permanent fastener to create a large full-thickness tissue fold called a plication. Twenty or more folds may be required depending on the size and shape of the gastric pouch. Most patients go home the next day and can return to work and most normal activities within a few days. In the weeks following surgery, a natural healing process fuses and cements the plications, which  resists stretching and reduces compliance of the pouch.

A:    Most procedures are completed in 20-30 minutes.

Q:    What is the recovery like?

A:    Most patients can return to work the next day or within a few days following their StomaphyX procedure. Patients should expect to experience some discomfort in their chest, nose and throat for the first few days to a week. Patients will be asked to restrict physical activity for the first week and will be given a soft/liquid diet to help maximize their success while the tissue plications heal.

Q:    What results should I expect?

A:    Results vary from patient to patient, but the StomaphyX^® procedure typically plays an important role in the patient's experiencing significant weight loss and a much higher satiety score in the months following the procedure.

Q:    How safe is the StomaphyX^® procedure?

A:    StomaphyX has been shown to be safe in use in hundreds of procedures worldwide. To date, most side effects have been minimal and transient. The StomaphyX procedure is expected to be safer than traditional surgery, which often involves incisions in the skin for access to the organs, and cutting around the organs to free the desired area for suturing. With StomaphyX, there are no incisions inside the organs or outside on the skin. This reduces or eliminates the risk of incisional herniation, infection, adhesions, and visible scarring. StomaphyX procedures are particularly attractive replacements for revisional surgery because revisional surgery is among the most complex forms of surgery and has a high risk of adverse events.