Have you heard about this?

I was watching the news tonight and they were talking about Stomaphix. I have read about it on some of the WLS revision sites and a few other sites. The lady on the news was a bander who had regained all of her weight and was now going to undergo this Stomaphix insertion.

My question is,is it only a revision or can it be the primary WLS option? There is no surgery involved. They just put it down your throat the same as they do an endoscopy. When it is in place they draw some of the rugge (pleats) of the stomach and staple through the pleats. Sounds wonderful if it can be used as a primary tool, Just think, no surgery, no incisions. Maybe in time. The ones who come up behind us may benefit from this. I hope so.

I paid particular attention because it may be something I might need in a few years. You never know. Never say never.

I just saw that on the news too. Never heard of it before. Will be interesting to see how it progresses.
Shirley

Yes I saw it on The Doctors. I have it on tape and I will look at it tomorrow and post notes here.
Hey     Perhaps the segment is on line. If it is I will try to post a link- not too sure how to do that, no time like the present to learn.

Here is a bit from the show synopsis.

StomaphyX
Despite surgery, gastric bypass patients often retain overly stretched stomachs, the result of many years of overeating. The StompahyX is a technique that allows a physician to snake an instrument through a patient’s mouth and down the throat to the stomach, then loop the stomach and pull it tight like a drawstring pouch.

 

Bariatric surgeon Dr. Julie Ellner describes the procedure as “tightening the stomach like a corset."

 

The procedure is minimally invasive and has few complications but requires general anesthesia.  

 

Is StomaphyX Right For You?

Dr. Ellner says that anyone who has gastric bypass surgery, but finds they are regaining weight due to a stretched stomach pouch, is a good candidate for the surgery.

 

“The StomaphyX device and the regular gastric bypass are just tools," she explains. “The success of the patient really relies on the patient’s ability and motivation to stay with the program."

 

Dr. Ellner performed the procedure on Loretta several months ago, and Loretta steps onstage to reveal her weight loss results. “I’ve lost 35 pounds!" she exclaims.

 

See Dr. Ellner demonstrate the StomaphyX procedure.

 

Watch the StomaphyX procedure performed in the operating room.
  

Read what Dr. Ordon has to say about the StomaphyX procedure on his blog.

 Hello everyone,

I'd like to share my take on StomaphyX surgery: It is the next logical step in the progression of GI tract alteration.

Procedures get less invasive and more direct as time goes by, and here is how gastric surgeries have developed:

Thirty years ago, gastric bypass for health reasons required an open laparotomy, which is a cut from stem to stern, and the stomach and small intestine were altered. The problem was that the surgery was very invasive and the patients who needed it most, the morbidly obese, could not tolerate the surgery.

Fifteen years ago, laparoscopic techniques for gastric bypass and Lap-Banding surgery reduced the impact of the procedure and made it available to more patients.

Now, StomaphyX surgery avoids the incisions on the abdomen associated with laparoscopy. Because the surgery is performed through the mouth, the stomach is stapled to itself from the inside, which creates a smaller, more tubular shape. The smaller shape then increases satiety, or the feeling of being full, after just a small meal.

This technique is relatively new and will not replace laparoscopy entirely, but the early data is very hopeful. We may be seeing the beginning of the end of the obesity epidemic! More from this episode.

Dr. Drew Ordon


 

Wouldn't it be great if they could develop something like this as a  primary weight loss proceedure and not have to have surgery at all. I think for right now it is a revision option instead of having more invasive surgery. I've read about this on other sites but I thin it is expensive. I think before I went the Stomaphix route, I'd try the 5 day pouch test. Easier and cheaper.