This revolutionary procedure is now available for individuals who have had previous gastric bypass surgery and who are regaining weight. This procedure involves no incisions and no recovery and involves placing an endoscope through the mouth into the stomach pouch. The connection between the stomach pouch and small intestines is then sutured resulting in slower emptying of the stomach and earlier satiety and more weight loss. The procedure also shrinks the stomach pouch and makes it small, similar to the outcome of the original gastric bypass procedure.
 

What is StomaphyX?

The StomaphyX™ is a surgical device used for fastening tissue resulting in modification and reshaping of the gastrointestinal tract without incisions.

What is the procedure like?

The StomaphyX™ procedure is performed safely, quickly, with no incisions and with minimal patient downtime. Because food in the stomach may hamper visualization during the treatment, patients will be asked not to eat or drink for 12 hours prior to the procedure. Prior to the procedure, the patient will be given anesthesia. While under anesthesia, the flexible StomaphyX device will be gently lowered through the mouth into the stomach under the visualization of an endoscope “camera” placed down the shaft of the device. Once inside the stomach, a small section of the stomach wall will be suctioned up into the device and fastened with a suture-like fastener creating a fold called a plication. This may be repeated 10-20 times.

What is the recovery like?

Most patients can return to work the next day or within a few days following their StomaphyX procedure. Patients should expect to experience some discomfort in their chest, nose and throat for the first few days to a week after the procedure. Patients will be asked to restrict physical activity for the first week and will be given dietary guidelines to help maximize their success while the plications heal. Typically a soft/liquid diet is required for 10 days to two weeks to protect the newly altered geometry.

Is StomaphyX™ safe?

StomaphyX has been shown to be safe in use in hundreds of procedures worldwide. To date, side effects have been minimal and transient. The StomaphyX procedure is expected to be safer than traditional surgery which often involves incisions in the skin for access to the organs, and cutting around the organs to free the desired area for suturing. With StomaphyX, there are no incisions inside on the organs or outside on the skin. This reduces or eliminates the risk of incisional herniation, infection, adhesions or visible scarring. StomaphyX procedures are particularly attractive replacements for revisional surgery because revisional surgery is among the most complex and dangerous types of surgery.

Benefits of the StomaphyX procedure include:

• No need for abdominal or internal surgical incisions.
• Enables the surgeon to reduce the size of the stomach.
• Preserves future treatment options.
• In most cases, is performed on an outpatient basis.
• Essentially painless.
• Faster recovery than with open or laparoscopic procedures.
• Provides for unique procedures for different anatomies
• Adjustable and/or revisable.

Has my surgeon been specially trained?

Every StomaphyX surgeon receives specialized StomaphyX training including lectures and live surgery with a nationally recognized surgeon and hands-on training with a certified StomaphyX trainer.