Stomaphyx

Some gastric bypass patients see a weight gain after 3-5 years due to an enlarged stomach pouch or an increase in the size of the stoma (the opening at the bottom of the stomach pouch). This results in a reduced ability to feel full after small meals. In the past revision surgery to reduce the size of the pouch or stoma meant revision operation with a higher rate of complications than the original bypass surgery. Today there is new, non-surgical option, Stomaphyx, to reduce the size of the pouch. The procedure typically takes less than an hour and because there are no incisions, patients can return to daily activities after a short recovery and observation period.

Stomaphyx is a new transoral device. The procedure is performed under general anesthesia by using a small flexible endoscope and the Stomaphyx device. The scope and the instruments are inserted through the mouth into the stomach pouch the same way as a standard endoscope. Once inside the stomach, a small section of the stomach wall is suctioned up into the device and fastened with a suture-like fastener creating a fold called a placation. The surgeon will then use the same technique to perform multiple plications in the stomach pouch to reduce its volume capacity; as many as 10-20 plications may be created during a typical procedure depending on the needs of the patient. Patient is kept in the hospital over night for observation. After the procedure the patient will enter our standard bariatric surgery follow-up program of nutritional counseling and exercise, similar to the one being prescribed for our patients after their gastric bypass surgery.