Aspiration therapy explained

Aspiration therapy is a bariatric approach to siphon ingested food from the stomach via an implanted tube and port to the outside of the body to be discarded.[1] The device for this approach was developed by researchers at Washington University in St. Louis to treat obesity and has been named AspireAssist.[1] The device has also been termed a reverse feeding tube. It was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on June 14, 2016.[2]

AspireAssist is made by Aspire Bariatrics. It is inserted in an outpatient setting using an endoscope during an about 15 minutes procedure.[3] People with the device can discharge yet undigested food via the port into the toilet, typically 20 to 30 minutes after a meal. Critics have called the approach “assisted bulimia”.[4] In an initial study 18 people those with the device lost more weight than controls.[5] The therapy is supported by a lifestyle counseling program, and requires regular medical supervision.

Candidates for the device cannot have an eating disorder, should be 22 years old or more, and should have a body mass index of 35 to 55. Short-term use is not encouraged.[2] Contraindications for the device are certain eating disorders (i.e. bulimia), certain types of previous abdominal surgery, pregnancy, stomach ulcers and inflammatory bowel disease.[2] Side effects reported are local skin irritation at the port site and abdominal discomfort, nausea, vomiting, constipation, and diarrhea.[2] Local infection may require removal of the tube.[3]

The device is removable.[3] Removal is performed on an outpatient basis and requires about ten minutes.[3]

References

  1. Sullivan S, Stein R, Jonnalagadda S, Mullady D, Edmundowicz S . Aspiration therapy leads to weight loss in obese subjects: a pilot study. . Gastroenterology . 2013 . 145 . 6 . 1245–52.e1–5. 10.1053/j.gastro.2013.08.056 . 24012983 . 4025911.
  2. https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm506625.htm FDA release. June 14, 2016
  3. Web site: Aspire Bariatrics website . 2016-06-16 . 2016-06-17 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160617032054/http://www.aspirebariatrics.com/about-the-aspireassist/ . dead .
  4. Web site: Reverse feeding tube developed in St. Louis is approved to treat obesity. Blythe Bernhard . St. Louis Post-Dispatch. June 15, 2016. June 15, 2016.
  5. Kumar. N. Endoscopic therapy for weight loss: Gastroplasty, duodenal sleeves, intragastric balloons, and aspiration.. World Journal of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. 25 July 2015. 7. 9. 847–59. 26240686. 10.4253/wjge.v7.i9.847. 4515419. free.