Incisionless surgery revises stomach bypass

I found this in my research notes I get in email from Yahoo News 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.

Hey Paul, there are several folks on the revision board who has had this.. they seem to be pretty happy so far... I wouldnt have been a candidate for this because my entire pouch came up above my diaphram muscle and my pouch was originally made to big but my stoma was perfect.. go figure.. Debby

Like Rhonda, I'm wondering how insurance is handling this? Are people finding it difficult to get coverage? I don't need it at this point but can certainly see where I *might* down the road somewhere. BTW, how are you feeling and how much have you lost since you had your revision? Theresa

did you see her updated profile pics Debby.. you are looking HOTT.. so glad you were able to do the revision and all.. I know you must be so much more happy!

Hey Theresa... This is Debby .. to lazy to switch computers LOL and my battery was low so I shut it down for now and using Sparks laptop.. ANYWAY!! I know some on the revision board have said it was covered by insurance so I am sure its like our originial surgery and you gotta check with them. My revision was covered totally due to all the other issues I had... I feel so much better.. I am so glad not to be in constant pain any longer and no longer dependant on pain meds to get through the day. I am down a total of 30lbs now and under 190 which I never made it to after the original surgery. I would like to lose about 15-20 more pounds then I will start looking into abdominplasty or however it's spelled LOL Take care Debby

Woo-Hoo, you go girl. So glad to hear that your revision is bringing the results you should have gotten the first time around if the surgery had been performed correctly. Ron

wonderful to know that there is still more hope.. just incase wonder how the insurance is gonna deal with this procedure..