Incisionless surgery revises stomach bypass

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - When weight loss stalls or other problems arise years after gastric bypass, the surgery can be successfully revised with an incisionless, from-the-inside approach, researchers from Ohio State University in Columbus report.

The technique, involves the use of a device called StomaphyX, which has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. The device is inserted with an endoscope via the mouth into the stomach, where suction pulls the stomach walls against the device. Staple-like fasteners are then deployed to create pleats in the walls, effectively reducing the size of the stomach.

"The incisionless surgery helps to recreate the patient's smaller stomach, causing early satiety and further weight loss," Dr. Dean Mikami, a surgeon involved in the development of StomaphyX and the first to perform the operation in the US, said in a statement. "This is currently the only endoscopic or nonsurgical way to reduce the size of the stomach after gastric bypass surgery."

Since April, a total of 22 such gastric bypass revisions have been performed at OSU. On average, patients dropped 10 pounds after 1 month, 15 pounds after 2 months, and 20 pounds after 3 months.

According to Mikami, between 10 and 15 percent of patients who undergo gastric bypass surgery will require a revision 2 to 15 years later.

Good candidates for treatment with StomaphyX, Mikami said, include those who have regained some of their weight after gastric bypass surgery and are compliant with their diet, exercise regularly, and do not experience early satiety during meals.