DDW: New Endoscopic GI Bypass Described in Porcine Model

Self-assembling magnets hold promise for rapid bypass procedure using only conscious sedation

MONDAY, May 21 (HealthDay News) -- An endoscopic gastrointestinal bypass procedure using self-assembling micro-magnets (Self Assembling MagnetS for ENdoscopy [SAMSEN]) can be used to safely create anastomoses in pigs, using only conscious sedation and with a total procedure time of less than 30 minutes, according to research presented at the annual Digestive Disease Week, held from May 19 to 22 in San Diego.

Marvin Ryou, M.D., of Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, and colleagues performed endoscopic gastrointestinal bypass procedures using SAMSEN self-assembling magnets on five consciously sedated pigs. The magnets were coupled with reciprocal magnets under fluoroscopy. The pigs were assessed every three days until anastomosis creation and expulsion of the magnets. Serial weight and blood work were compared at three months with three age-matched controls.

The researchers found that endoscopic gastrointestinal bypass creation was successful in all pigs, with the bypass between the proximal jejunum and colon the easiest to create. The mean procedure time was less than 15 minutes (14.7 minutes). By day four, large-caliber patent, leak-free bypasses had formed, and weights began to diverge from control animals. The fused SAMSEN magnets were expelled by day 12. At three months, fully patent anastomoses with an average diameter of 3.7 cm had formed with full re-epithelialization and minimal or no evidence of adhesions, fibrosis, or inflammation. The mean weight of bypass and control pigs at three months was 44 versus 68 kg (P = 0.01).

"Endoscopic GI bypass using SAMSEN magnets can be safely and rapidly performed (<30 minutes) in the porcine model using only conscious sedation," the authors write.

The study was funded in part by Beacon Endoscopic; several authors disclosed financial ties to medical device companies, including Beacon Endoscopic.

Abstract No. 1027
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