Feature Article

Incisionless Procedure Offers Second Chance to Gastric Bypass Patients

In 1993, Alvarado Hospital was the first hospital in the nation to perform laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery. This month, Alvarado became the first hospital in San Diego to offer StomaphyX, an incision-free alternative to conventional surgery for gastric bypass patients who have regained weight.

On Valentine’s Day, bariatric surgeon Julie Ellner, MD, performed the StomaphyX procedure for the very first time at Alvarado Hospital. During the 30-minute procedure, she used a simple scope inserted through the patient’s mouth to re-shrink the stomach pouch.

There were no incisions, and the patient went home the very same day. StomaphyX only became available in the last few months. Dr. Ellner said the buzz about this procedure has quickly spread among gastric bypass patients via Internet message boards.

Dr. Ellner has been doing laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery since 2000, when she became the first woman in the world to perform the procedure. She says incision-free surgery, also referred to as “natural orifice surgery,” is a promising development in surgical technique.

“The conventional revisional surgery for gastric bypass surgery starts with a long incision and takes hours because of all of the existing scar tissue,” Dr. Ellner said. “The risks for bleeding, complications and mortality are much higher than for the original gastric bypass surgery.

“And even if the revisional surgery goes well, patients just don’t do as well the second time around.”

Because of the risks, Dr. Ellner added that many surgeons will not perform conventional revisional surgery for gastric bypass.

Dr. Ellner emphasized that StomaphyX offers gastric bypass patients a second chance, but they must also make behavioral changes in order to receive the full weight-loss benefit.