Press Releases
USGI MEDICAL ANNOUNCES THE USE OF ENDOSURGICAL OPERATING SYSTEM TO REDUCE THE POUCH AND STOMA OF POST GASTRIC BYPASS PATIENTS
EOS Delivers Incisionless Option for Gastric Bypass Restoration
San Clemente, CA, May 10, 2007 - USGI Medical, the pioneer in the emerging field of Incisionless NOTES and endolumenal surgery, today announced the use of their EndoSurgical Operating System [EOS] to restore the size of the stomach pouch and stoma (connection between the stomach and small intestine) to more closely match original post-surgical dimensions. The procedure does not require surgical incisions.
According to the American Society of Bariatric Surgeons, over 6 million people in the United States are morbidly obese. The Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass is the most common surgical option for obesity today, accounting for over 65 percent of bariatric surgeries. "Studies have shown however, that over time, up to 20 percent of gastric bypass patients regain a substantial portion of the weight they originally lost," said Dr. Marc Bessler, Director of Laparoscopic Surgery at Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY. "Stretching of either the small stomach pouch or the small stoma, or sometimes both, is considered by many to be the cause of this weight regain."
The USGI EOS is introduced through the mouth to create multiple tissue folds circumferentially around the stoma to reduce its diameter, and within the stomach pouch to decrease its volume. The folds are held by specially designed suture anchors. "My first patient felt essentially no pain after the procedure and has reversed her upward weight trend. At three months she has lost over 60 percent of the weight she had regained," reported Dr. Lee Swanstrom, Director of Minimally Invasive Surgery at Legacy Health Systems, Portland, OR.
Traditional surgery to restore an original gastric bypass is technically challenging for the surgeon and risky for the patient due to tissue scarring and adhesions related to the original procedure. "Gastric bypass patients work very hard to manage their weight after surgery, and when weight begins to return it can be very frustrating," said Dr. Daniel Herron, Director of Bariatric Surgery at Mt. Sinai, New York, NY. "It is exciting to present a new and dramatically less invasive alternative to restore the small size of the stomach pouch and stoma, with the goal of getting these patients back on the road to weight loss."
"Suturing within the GI tract is particularly challenging," said Lee Swanstrom. "The unique design of the USGI suture anchors is different than other endoscopic suturing solutions and has been shown to provide good durability. I am very encouraged that at the three month endoscopy of my first patient, the tissue folds remained intact and demonstrated excellent healing properties."
"USGI is pleased that our EOS proved effective in this new procedure," said Eugene Chen, President and Chief Executive Officer of USGI. "This represents one more step towards establishing the EOS as the platform for NOTES and other Incisionless procedures. In the coming months we are looking forward to providing our EndoSurgical Operating System to additional pioneering physicians."
About USGI Medical, Inc.
USGI Medical Inc, based in San Clemente, California was founded in 2001 to develop technology for Incisionless EndoSurgery. Potential applications for Incisionless EndoSurgery include Obesity, NOTES (Natural Orifice Translumenal Endoscopic Surgery) and GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease).