Acid Reflux Eased in 92% of Patients with Implanted Magnetic Device
Sixty-four percent of patients with gastroesophageal acid reflux had a normalization of esophageal acid exposure or a 50% or greater reduction in acid exposure at one year after implantation of a magnetic device that augments the esophageal sphincter. It is estimated that about 1 in 3 people in the United States has gastric reflux disease. Proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) are effective but for many provide incomplete control of reflux.
The beaded bracelet-like device augments resistance of the esophageal sphincter to abnormal opening associated with reflux.
In the analysis, more than 90% of patients who were given the device had a reduction of 50% or more in the use of PPIs used to control their disease, and 92% of patients had a more than 50% improvement in quality of life.
The study, published on February 21st in the New England Journal of Medicine, examined outcomes with the device in a group of 100 patients. No control arm was used in the study.
An abstract of the study is available here.
