Multi-center trial of TIF
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This 12-month study evaluated the safety and efficacy of the transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF) procedure using the EsophyX system. 86 patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease underwent the TIF procedure. At 12 months, 73% of patients reported at least a 50% improvement in quality of life scores, 85% discontinued daily PPI use, and 81% had complete cessation of PPIs. The TIF procedure was found to be safe and effective in improving symptoms for most patients with GERD.
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esophagitis, as well as increasing the LES resting pressure 12 months from a prospective multicenter trial with 86
and normalizing esophageal pH and cardia circumference patients that was intended to further evaluate the safety and
in chronic GERD patients. efļ¬cacy of the TIF procedure using the EsophyX system
with SerosaFuse fasteners.
Introduction Patients and methods
The need for a long-term treatment of gastroesophageal The study, designed as a prospective multicenter trial, was
reļ¬ux disease (GERD) has become increasingly apparent conducted internationally at seven clinical centers under a
during the past decade and a half as a result of the growing common protocol approved by each centerās ethics com-
prevalence and incidence of this chronic disease [1ā6]. The mittee. Informed consent was obtained before enrolling
likelihood of developing GERD increases with the severity patients in the study.
of anatomic change and dysfunction of the gastroesopha-
geal (GE) junction, which represents the primary defense Patient selection
against reļ¬ux of gastric content into the esophagus [7ā12].
Restoration of the antireļ¬ux competence of the GE junc- The study population consisted of patients 18 to 80 years of
tion at the anatomic and physiologic levels is critical for age with chronic GERD symptoms ([6 months) responsive
effective long-term treatment of GERD [2]. to proton pump inhibition (PPI) therapy, as judged by
Antireļ¬ux surgery has been shown to be more effective GERD health-related quality of life (HRQL) scores of B 12
in terms of patient satisfaction, clinical outcome, and health while on PPI therapy, whose symptoms recurred upon dis-
care cost reduction than pharmacologic antisecretory continuation of PPI therapy for 14 days (GERD-HRQL
therapies in the long-term management of chronic GERD score C 20 or a difference of C 10 between the scores on
[13ā16]. However, side effects of the antireļ¬ux fundopli- and off PPIs). Pathologic esophageal acid exposure was
cation procedures frequently compromise otherwise conļ¬rmed by 48-hour pH-metry using the wireless Bravo
excellent postsurgical results [15, 17]. Persistent dyspha- pH system (Medtronic, Shoreview, MN, USA) [30]. To be
gia, inability to belch and vomit, and increased bloating included, patients were also required to have a deteriorated
and ļ¬atulence are common side effects that may persist for GE junction with Hill grade II, III, or IV [26]. Brieļ¬y, the
more than 6 months following surgery and prove to be Hill grades were deļ¬ned as follows.
difļ¬cult to treat [13, 18ā21]. To minimize the risk of
chronic complications, a variety of factors must be taken ā¢ Grade I valves: presence of a prominent tissue fold
into account, including the technical aspects of the opera- surrounding the endoscopic shaft
tion [20, 22]. āāTailoringāā the valve seems to restore the ā¢ Grade II valves: presence of a moderately prominent
physiology of the GE junction more adequately, allowing tissue fold; rarely opens with respiration and closes
air to be vented from the stomach without jeopardizing the promptly
efļ¬cacy of the antireļ¬ux barrier [12, 23]. ā¢ Grade III valves: a barely present fold; fails to close
A novel transoral incisionless device was developed in around the endoscope
an attempt to mimics antireļ¬ux surgery through con- ā¢ Grade IV valves: lack of a muscular fold; lumen of
structing a valve at the GE junction, restoring the angle of esophagus stays open all the time, allowing the
His, and reducing a small hiatal hernia with fewer side squamous epithelium to be viewed from below
effects. The EsophyX system with SerosaFuse fasteners The exclusion criteria were severe reļ¬ux esophagitis grade
(EndoGastric Solutions, Redmond, WA, USA) was D in the Los Angeles classiļ¬cation [31]; body mass index
designed to reconstruct a valve through tailored delivery of (BMI) C 35 kg m-2; other esophageal diseases, including
multiple fasteners during a single-device insertion [24]. biopsy-proven Barrettās esophagus, esophageal motility
The EsophyX device and the corresponding transoral in- disorders, esophageal stricture, esophageal ulcer, delayed
cisionless fundoplication (TIF) procedure were developed gastric emptying, irreducible hiatal hernia of [ 2 cm; or
based on the current knowledge and understanding of the previously failed antireļ¬ux surgery.
anatomic and physiologic functions of the GE junction that During the initial screening phase, patients were evalu-
was derived from extensive research with open and lapa- ated for their medical history including GERD medication
roscopic antireļ¬ux surgery [25ā28]. The safety and usage, and they completed the GERD-HRQL questionnaire
efļ¬cacy of the EsophyX-TIF procedure were initially while on PPI therapy. The use of PPIs was then discon-
demonstrated by 12-month results from a feasibility study tinued for 14 days, and other GERD medications, such as
with 19 patients [29]. This article presents results at 6 and histamine receptor antagonists (H2RA) or antacids, was
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discontinued for 7 and 2 days, respectively. While off all Effectiveness assessment
GERD medications, the GERD-HRQL questionnaire was
readministered, and esophageal pH was assessed over a The primary effectiveness endpoint was patient quality of
48-hour period. life assessed by the validated 10-question GERD-HRQL
This evaluation was repeated at 3, 6, and 12 months after questionnaire evaluating heartburn-related symptoms and
the procedure. The assessment at the time of screening and patient satisfaction using a 0 to 5 Visual Analogue Scale
at 6 and 12 months also included upper gastrointestinal (GI) [32]. The total GERD-HRQL scores were calculated by
endoscopy and optional biopsy. Manometry and barium summing the responses to nine questions [33]; possible
swallow radiography were performed at screening and at scores ranged between 0 (no symptoms) and 45 (worst
6 months but were optional at 12 months. symptoms). A C 50% improvement in the total GERD-
HRQL scores compared to the baseline off PPIs was con-
Procedure details sidered clinically signiļ¬cant [34, 35]. The heartburn score
was calculated by summing the responses to the ļ¬rst six
The TIF procedure using the EsophyX device was designed questions. Absent or rare heartburn (scores of B 2 to each
to create full-thickness serosa-to-serosa plications and of the six questions, or a total score of B 12) was indica-
construct valves 3 to 5 cm in length and 200Ā° to 300Ā° in tive of heartburn elimination. Patient satisfaction with their
circumference [24]. The procedures were performed fol- current health condition was evaluated based on question
lowing a standard TIF1.0 protocol under general anesthesia 10 as either āāsatisļ¬ed,āā āāneutral,āā or āādissatisļ¬edāā [32].
with either nasal or transoral intubation by a team of two Regurgitation was assessed as present or absent by a sep-
physicians (surgeons and/or gastroenterologists) [24, 29]. arate direct question.
The ļ¬rst physician controls the implantation of fasteners Secondary effectiveness endpoints were PPI usage,
using the EsophyX device, and the second operates the esophageal acid exposure, hiatal hernia size, reļ¬ux
endoscope and ensures continuous direct visualization. esophagitis grade, valve Hill grade, and lower esophageal
The device is inserted transorally into the esophagus with sphincter (LES) resting pressure. These endpoints allowed
the patient in the left lateral position. The hiatal hernia, if thorough, complete evaluation of the competence of the
present, is reduced by returning the squamocolumnar antireļ¬ux barrier.
junction to its natural position below the diaphragm using a The use of PPIs and other GERD medications, such as
built-in vacuum invaginator. During a single insertion, a H2RA and antacids, was recorded. āāDailyāā usage of PPIs
valve similar to that created through antireļ¬ux surgery is corresponded to a double dose, full dose, or half dose taken
reconstructed by retraction of full-thickness plications and daily for more than 50% of the total number of days during
tailored placement of multiple fasteners circumferentially the follow-up period. āāOccasionalāā or āāon-demandāā usage
around the GE junction starting on the greater curve side of was deļ¬ned as less than a half dose or any daily dose of
the valve [29]. PPIs taken for less than 50% of the total number of days
Patients were instructed to consume a liquid diet during during the follow-up period. The designation āānoneāā was
the ļ¬rst 2 weeks and a soft diet during the following used when not a single dose of PPIs was taken during the
4 weeks. PPIs were discontinued 7 days after the proce- speciļ¬ed period. Reduction of usage from daily to none or
dure. In the event of symptom recurrence requiring occasional was considered clinically signiļ¬cant.
medication, a āāstep-downāā protocol was employed; and Esophageal acid exposure corresponded to the percent-
patients were returned to their preprocedure dose of PPIs age of total monitoring time at pH 4; it was normal if it
and then weaned from them if possible. There was no TIF was B 5.3 [36, 37] or signiļ¬cantly improved if it was
retreatment allowed in the present study. reduced by C 30% compared to that pre-TIF, a rate sufļ¬-
cient to eliminate symptoms [38]. During the 48-hour
Safety assessment assessment, patients were encouraged to engage in their
usual activities [36, 39]. Periods of poor signal reception
The incidences of anticipated and unanticipated serious and and capsule displacement to the stomach or intestine were
nonserious adverse events were carefully recorded. Serious excluded from calculations upon review and recommen-
adverse events were deļ¬ned as complications necessitating dation of a validation panel.
hospitalization and medical or surgical intervention. Upper GI endoscopy was performed to assess the pres-
Adverse events and symptoms were recorded and catego- ence and size of a hiatal hernia. A reduction in hiatal hernia
rized using the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities size of at least 50% compared to that pre-TIF was con-
(MedDRA) classiļ¬cation system developed by the Interna- sidered clinically signiļ¬cant. The endoscopy examination
tional Conference on Harmonisation (ICH) (http://www. also assessed reļ¬ux esophagitis following the Los Angeles
meddramsso.com). classiļ¬cation [31] and the geometrical aspects of the TIF
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valves by measuring their Jobe length, deļ¬ned as the length NC, USA). Continuous variables, summarized by medians
(in centimeters) from the apex of the fundus to the valve lip and ranges, were considered to represent the population
[40] and circumference, deļ¬ned as the distance in degrees main trends because of the generally skewed data distri-
between the two most distant fasteners. The valve geom- bution (as indicated by asymmetrical ranges around the
etry was evaluated based on the adherence to the medians). Categorical variables were summarized as
endoscope as tight, moderate, or loose and the Hill grade counts and percentages. The p values for changes at 6 or
[26], as described above. A one-grade reduction in 12 months compared to pre-TIF were calculated using
esophagitis or Hill grade at 12 months compared to that Wilcoxonās signed rank, sign, McNemarās test, or the
pre-TIF was considered clinically signiļ¬cant. Mann-Whitney test. Values of p 0.05 were considered
Cardia circumference was evaluated retrospectively signiļ¬cant.
using cardia circumference measurement software and The results at 12 months were stratiļ¬ed into three cat-
static retroļ¬exed images [41]. A total of 41 patients with egories depending on the Hill grade and TIF valve
clear retroļ¬exed views of the cardia before and 12 months adherence: Hill grade I, tight; Hill grade II, moderate; Hill
after TIF and the known caliber of the gastroscope were grade III/IV, loose. Patients with valves that did not ļ¬t into
considered eligible for cardia circumference measure- the listed categories were excluded from the stratiļ¬cation
ments. A total of 15 measurements (three images measured analysis. Differences among Hill grade groups and follow-
ļ¬ve times each) were taken for each patient and follow-up up visits were tested for signiļ¬cance using Spearmanās
period after the validated protocol [41] and were used to rank correlation or the Kruskal-Wallis test of the equality
calculate the mean cardia circumference. A mean cardia of medians.
circumference of 34.3 mm was considered normal [41]. Percentage reduction in esophagitis grade was also
Esophageal manometry was performed in the usual fashion calculated without the patients taking daily or occasional
using a stationary pull-through technique [42]. A LES resting PPIs at 12 months to avoid a type 1 error, as the usage of
pressure of 10 to 40 mmHg was considered normal [43]. medication represented a confounding variable to the effect
Values post-TIF represented the latest follow-up measure. of TIF on esophagitis improvement.
Effectiveness endpoints were evaluated after discontinu- Predictors of clinical effectiveness at 12 months were
ation of PPIs for at least 14 days before TIF and evaluated through nonparametric Spearmanās rank corre-
postoperative follow-up visits at 3, 6, and 12 months. lation coefļ¬cient between anatomic and pathophysiologic
Patients served as their own controls, and the outcome values variables with continuous and ordinal values. Spearmanās
at each follow-up were compared with those before TIF. coefļ¬cient (q) ranged from -1 to + 1, with negative values
A global assessment of all outcome measures was per- indicating that one variable tended to increase as the other
formed for each patient to determine the long-term decreased and positive values indicating a positive increase
effectiveness of the EsophyX-TIF procedure in curing of two variables.
GERD. Patients were considered āācompletely curedāā if
they had no more heartburn or regurgitation, normal or
signiļ¬cantly reduced esophageal acid exposure, eliminated Results
esophagitis, and reduced hiatal hernia. Patients were con-
sidered āācuredāā from GERD if they demonstrated Patient characteristics
clinically signiļ¬cant alleviation of their symptoms (C50
reduction) and discontinued all PPI therapy. Patients were A total of 86 patients were enrolled between April and
considered āāimprovedāā if they required only occasional December 2006 from seven clinical centers in Belgium
PPI therapy and had reduced heartburn. Patients with (ļ¬ve), Germany (one), and Italy (one), with 4 to 27 patients
āāongoing GERDāā showed no alleviation of their symptoms per center. Three patients (3%) had inclusion/exclusion
and required daily PPIs. violations for which they were granted exemptions. Among
A web-based data entry system (Simpliļ¬ed Clinical those patients, one had a pathological 10-question GERD-
Data Systems, Milford, NH, USA) with case report forms HRQL score on PPIs of 14 but a borderline score off PPIs
was employed for real-time data capture at each site. All of 20 and therefore a difference between scores of only 6;
data were veriļ¬ed against source documents through reg- and two patients had a BMI of 36. In addition, later vali-
ular onsite monitoring. dation of the pH reports identiļ¬ed one patient with a long
recording period in the stomach resulting from premature
Statistical analysis dislodgement of the Bravo capsule on the second day. The
exclusion of this gastric period resulted in changing the
Data were analyzed by an independent statistician using values of esophageal acid exposure to normal on the worst
SAS statistical software version 8.0 (SAS Institute, Cary, day (3% time pH 4 and 13.1 DeMeester score). This
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60%
Pre-TIF were reported as dysphagia and lasted up to 1 week after
6 mo Post-TIF
the procedure. All of these nonserious adverse events were
50%
mild and resolved spontaneously. Chronic diarrhea, gas
12 mo Post-TIF
bloat, and/or nausea were notably absent.
Percentage of Patients
40%
Three serious adverse events (SAEs) occurred in the
study. The ļ¬rst was perforation of the proximal esophagus
30%
during advancement of the device without ensuring ade-
20%
quate visualization. The procedure was discontinued, and
the injury was immediately repaired with surgical suture
10% following the standard care protocol for managing esoph-
ageal perforations [44]. The patient was discharged after
0% 6 days with no sequelae. The second SAE was perforation
Hill grade I Hill grade II Hill grade III Hill grade IV
that occurred during attempted device insertion into the
Fig. 2 Hill grade distribution of the valves narrow hypopharynx of a patient with Turnerās syndrome.
The investigators recommended this patient based on
were used to construct each TIF valve. In total, 65% adequate endoscopic access, but the esopharynx space
(55/84) of procedures were conducted by ļ¬ve teams of two proved to be insufļ¬cient to allow introduction of the
gastroenterologists and the remaining 35% by two teams of device/endoscope assembly. The perforation was con-
one surgeon and one gastroenterologist. Altogether, 89% of ļ¬rmed by computed tomography and surgically repaired
the procedures were accomplished using a single device. after 2.5 hours. The patient was discharged after 21 days.
The TIF valves had a median length of 4 cm (2ā6 cm) and The third SAE consisted of post-TIF intraluminal bleeding
a circumference of 230Ā° (160Ā°ā300Ā°). All 49 hiatal hernias and a reported decrease in hemoglobin of 70 g L-1. The
were reduced, including the 4 that measured 3.0 cm. patient underwent blood transfusion with 4 units of blood,
Hospitalization stay was 1 day for all but one of the and the bleeding was stopped by applying clips endo-
patients; the exception was a patient who experienced scopically and injecting ļ¬brin glue. The patient was
intraluminal bleeding and was hospitalized for 5 days (see discharged after 5 days and remained in the study.
later). A total of 81 (96%) patients at 6 months and 79 (94%)
patients at 12 months (of the 84 treated) completed the
Safety assessment follow-up assessment tests and were included in the clini-
cal effectiveness analysis. Seven patients were lost to
The most common adverse event was musculoskeletal pain follow-up (8%): Two patients with esophageal injury
in the left shoulder for up to 1 month reported by 16 (18%) exited the study immediately and later underwent a lapa-
patients (Table 2). Other events included abdominal pain roscopic Nissen fundoplication (LNF); two patients exited
(15%), sore throat (8%), nausea (8%), and epigastric pain the study before the 3-month follow-up (one underwent
(7%). Difļ¬culty swallowing associated with a sore throat LNF); one patient failed to return at the 6-month follow-up
visit but returned for the 12-month visit; and three patients
Table 2 Adverse events after the EsophyX-TIF procedure catego- could not be contacted or were unable to make their
rized by the MedDRA classiļ¬cation system and grouped by their 12-month visit. The patients lost to follow-up were inclu-
duration ded in the safety analysis but excluded from the clinical
Adverse event B1 Week 1 Week to 1 month [1 Month assessment because of the lack of data.
Musculoskeletal pain 8 (9%) 8 (9%)
Clinical effectiveness at 12 months
Abdominal pain upper 8 (9%) 4 (5%) 1 (1%)
Pharyngolaryngeal pain 6 (7%) 1 (1%)
The GERD-HRQL scores improved signiļ¬cantly, by 68%,
Nausea 6 (7%) 1 (1%) compared to those before TIF and off PPIs (Table 3). A
Epigastric pain 4 (5%) 2 (2%) clinically signiļ¬cant improvement in GERD-HRQL scores
Application site bleeding 5 (6%) was achieved by 73% of patients (Table 3). Heartburn scores
Pyrexia 3 (4%) were signiļ¬cantly reduced in 75% of patients compared to
Dysphagia 3 (4%) those off PPIs (Table 3). Regurgitation experienced while on
Diarrhea 2 (2%) and off PPIs was signiļ¬cantly (p = 0.02) reduced in 55%
Vomiting 2 (2%) and 59% of patients, respectively. Complete symptom
Values represent number of patients experiencing an adverse event elimination (GERD-HRQL score B 12) was experienced by
for each of the time periods 75% of patients; and 65% of patients were satisļ¬ed, 12%
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Table 4 Use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), histamine receptor 22
53% Increase
antagonists (H2RA), and antacids before and after the EsophyX-TIF 20 P < 0.01
procedure
18
Medication No. Daily Occasional None 16
PPIs 14
Pre-TIF 86 86 (100%) 0 0 12
mmHg
6 Months 81 14 (17%) 11 (14%) 56 (69%) 10
12 Months 79 12 (15%) 13 (16%) 54 (68%) 8
H2RA
6
Pre-TIF 86 3 (3%) 1 (1%) 82 (95%)
4
6 Months 81 0 1 (1%) 80 (99%)
2
12 Months 79 0 5 (6%) 74 (94%)
Antacids 0
Pre-TIF (n = 77) Post-TIF (n = 75)
Pre-TIF 86 0 18 (21%) 68 (79%)
6 Months 81 0 21 (26%) 60 (74%) Fig. 3 Resting pressure of lower esophageal sphincter (LES) deter-
12 Months 79 0 23 (29%) 56 (71%) mined by manometry before and after the EsophyX-TIF procedure
Any GERD medication
Pre-TIF 86 86 (100%) 0 0
6 Months 81 14 (17%) 25 (31%) 42 (52%) esophagitis. The remaining 22% of patients had āāongoingāā
12 Months 79 12 (15%) 29 (37%) 38 (48%) GERD as they continued to experience GERD symptoms
Usage was deļ¬ned as āādailyāā when C half dose was taken for C50%
and required daily PPI therapy.
of the preceding follow-up period; as āāoccasionalāā when B half dose Correlation analysis at 12 months revealed a signiļ¬cant
taken for 50% of the preceding follow-up period; and as āānoneāā relation (q [ 0.5, p 0.001) between the valveās Hill
when no medication was taken during the speciļ¬ed period grade and hiatal hernia size, esophagitis grade, LES resting
Values represent counts (%) pressure, and cardia circumference (Table 8). Esophageal
acid exposure correlated most signiļ¬cantly with hiatal
Table 5 Esophageal pH monitoring hernia size.
Parameter Pre-TIF 6 Months 12 Months
(n = 82) Post-TIF Post-TIF
(n = 81) (n = 71)a
Discussion
Percentage of time pH 4
Median (range) 10 (3ā67) 7 (1ā29) 7 (0ā22) The patient population participating in this study suffered
Median % reduction 31 33 from severe chronic GERD. Most of the patients had had
p 0.001 0.02 GERD for more than 6 years, experienced frequent and
Normalizedb 33 (41%) 26 (37%) severe heartburn and regurgitations, and used PPIs at a
Signiļ¬cantly 46 (57%) 43 (61%) daily dose of 20 to 80 mg for more than 3 years. The high
reducedc prevalence of hiatal hernia, esophagitis, and gastritis
or normalized reļ¬ected an advanced level of the disease. Gastritis and
DeMeester score gastric polyps have been associated with prolonged PPI use
Median (range) 34 (11ā222) 24 (4ā107) 28 (1ā76) [45ā47]. Upper GI endoscopy conļ¬rmed that deterioration
Median % reduction 28 24 of the GE junction (Hill grade II or III) appeared con-
p 0.001 0.001 comitantly with the presence of high esophageal acid
a
Data were missing for eight patients because of technical problems exposure, esophagitis, and/or hiatal hernia. Patients with
with Bravo (n = 5), contraindications due to other health problems similar characteristics are typically referred for antireļ¬ux
(n = 2), or refusal (n = 1) surgery [15, 17] or treated with increasing doses of PPIs
b
Deļ¬ned by pH 4 for B 5.3% of the total monitoring time [36] [48, 49].
c
Deļ¬ned by a delta of C 30% compared to baseline off PPIs The two esophageal perforations experienced in this
study were associated with device insertion. They under-
acid exposure. Most of these patients had Hill grade I or II line the caution required during this stage of transoral
valves. The āāimprovedāā group consisted of 22% of surgery [50] and the need for careful pretherapeutic patient
patients who experienced 80% reduction of their symp- assessment [23]. In approximately 330 TIF cases that have
toms, were off daily PPIs, and had reduced hiatal hernia or been performed worldwide to date, these were the only two
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Fig. 4 Endoscopic images of
gastroesophageal valves from
two patients who had Hill grade
IV valves, esophagitis A, and a
2 cm hiatal hernia before TIF.
At 6 and 12 months post-TIF
both patients had Hill grade I
valves, no hiatal hernia, and no
esophagitis
known instances of esophageal injury upon device insertion procedure and was proportional to the extent of insufļ¬ation
[51]. They might have been avoided by careful device and procedure duration. Epigastric pain experienced by 7%
introduction under continuous endoscopic visualization and of patients was most likely associated with transmural se-
by excluding patients with abnormal or unusually narrow rosal fastening. Pharyngolaryngeal pain, reported as sore
esophageal anatomy. Additional reļ¬nement in the design of throat by 8% of patients, was assumed to be caused by
the device may also help reduce this risk. The reported insertion of the 18 mm device and its repetitive rotations
instance of intraluminal bleeding at one fastener site was around the longitudinal axis during the procedure. Nausea
the only serious complication that resulted directly from present in 7% of patients could result from insufļ¬ation,
the TIF procedure. Tissue compression inherent in the anesthesia, or manipulation of tissue at the GE junction that
device design and delivery method most likely accounts for possibly stressed the vagus nerve. The postoperative dys-
the low incidence of intraluminal bleeding. phagia experienced by 4% resulted from swelling at the GE
The side effects reported after the TIF procedure were junction and resolved within 7 days without intervention.
few, mild, and transient. Shoulder pain, which was reported Chronic side effects typically associated with laparoscopic
by 18% of patients, is typically associated with antireļ¬ux fundoplication (e.g., dysphagia, gas bloat, diarrhea) [19,
laparoscopic surgery and results from indirect or direct 20, 53] were notably absent after TIF. The difference in the
irritation of the phrenic nerve and the resulting dermatome incidence of these complications probably resulted from
response [52]. The abdominal pain reported in 15% of the absence of any surgical dissection and of wrapping the
patients most likely resulted from insufļ¬ation during the greater gastric curvature around the esophagus, both of
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Table 6 Endoscopic evaluation the durability of the reduction of hiatal hernias through TIF
Parameter Pre-TIF 6 Months 12 Months
was accomplished by tightening the phrenoesophageal
(n = 82) Post-TIF Post-TIF membrane, which is one of the intrinsic components of the
(n = 81) (n = 77)a antireļ¬ux barrier [55, 56]. The TIF reduction of small
hiatal hernias was durable in 60% of patients and con-
Hill grade
tributed to the signiļ¬cant reduction in esophageal acid
I 0 22 (29%) 24 (33%)
exposure and esophagitis in the patients. Several studies
II 35 (45%) 42 (55%) 26 (36%)
have demonstrated similar beneļ¬cial changes in anatomy
III 34 (44%) 10 (13%) 18 (25%)
and physiology of the GE junction after eliminating a hiatal
IV 9 (12%) 3 (4%) 5 (7%)
hernia, especially in terms of healing esophagitis, normal-
Hiatal hernia
ization of esophageal acid exposure, and increasing the
None 33 (41%) 58 (72%) 49 (64%)
LES resting pressure [9ā11].
1 cm 11 (14%) 7 (9%) 12 (16%)
Restoration of the deteriorated GE junctions to Hill
2 cm 33 (41%) 14 (17%) 10 (13%)
grade I tight valves resulted in elimination of GERD
3 cm 4 (5%) 2 (3%) 6 (8%) symptoms, total cessation of daily PPI use, and healing of
Reduced 35/47 (74%) 27/45 (60%) esophagitis in more than 80% of patients. The level of
p 0.001 p 0.001 effectiveness achieved at 12 months by 27% of patients
Eliminated 29/47 (62%) 22/45 (49%) with Hill grade I tight valves was signiļ¬cantly correlated
Esophagitis with reduction of the hiatal hernia, normalization of the
None 14 (17%) 37 (46%) 35 (45%) cardia circumference, and the increase in LES resting
Grade A 31 (38%) 26 (32%) 22 (29%) pressure. The demonstrated signiļ¬cant correlation between
Grade B 27 (33%) 14 (17%) 14 (18%) the quality of anatomic reconstruction and the improve-
Grade C 10 (12%) 3 (4%) 5 (6%) ment in clinical and pathophysiologic outcome measures
Grade D 0 1 (1%) 1 (1%) provides compelling evidence to support the ability of the
Reducedb 42/67 (63%) 39/63 (62%) TIF procedure to improve the antireļ¬ux competence of the
p 0.001 p 0.001 GE junction.
Eliminatedb 26/67 (39%) 25/63 (40%) Although the exact underlying mechanism of TIF valves
a
Data are missing for two patients whose examinations were con- remains under investigation, the total resolution of GERD
traindicated because of other health problems symptoms and the healing of esophagitis achieved in most
b
After excluding patients taking daily PPIs, at 6 and 12 months of the patients in this study, especially in those with Hill
esophagitis was reduced in 61% and 58% of patients and eliminated grade I tight valves, are strong evidence indicating that the
in 39% and 37% of patients, respectively TIF valves contributed to a better mechanical barrier,
thereby preventing GE reļ¬ux. Moreover, the durable and
which contribute to the observed side effects after Nissen effective repair of small hiatal hernias, the signiļ¬cantly
fundoplication [17, 20, 54]. increased LES resting pressure, the narrowed cardia, and
The results at 12 months supported the clinical effec- the re-created acute angle of His support the ability of the
tiveness of the TIF procedure in treating patients with TIF procedure to enhance the competence of the antireļ¬ux
chronic GERD. The overall median improvement in barrier. The fact that preoperative hiatal hernias were
GERD-HRQL of 68% reported at 12 months post-TIF smaller and less common among patients with Hill grade I
resulted in a complete symptom resolution in 75% of tight valves (44%) than those with Hill grade II moderate
patients. Although quality of life is subjective, patients valves (67%) and Hill grade III/IV loose valves (71%) at
typically request treatment for their heartburn rather than 12 months suggested that patients with small (B 2 cm) or
for their esophagitis or abnormal esophageal acid exposure no hiatal hernia might be the best initial candidates for this
[2, 3, 15]. Although the reduction in GERD symptoms at procedure as they experienced the best outcome in terms of
12 months was similar to that obtained while on PPIs, TIF esophagitis healing and symptom relief.
resulted in higher patient satisfaction than with PPI ther- The 12-month results demonstrated that the level of
apy. The elimination of daily PPI dependence in 85% of clinical and anatomic improvements obtained following the
patients at 12 months after the EsophyX-TIF procedure TIF procedure was sustained over time. Technical exper-
was also encouraging. tise, the quality of the tailored valve, and careful
The TIF procedure was shown to be effective in postprocedure patient management have been identiļ¬ed as
reducing small hiatal hernias (B2 cm). EsophyX has been key factors for achieving the highest level of anatomic
identiļ¬ed as the only transoral device that is capable of repair of the GE junction through TIF. Similar factors have
reducing small hiatal hernias [50]. It was hypothesized that been identiļ¬ed for successful antireļ¬ux surgeries [57ā59].
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![1686 World J Surg (2008) 32:1676ā1688
Table 7 Clinical effectiveness
Parameter Hill grade I Hill grade II Hill grade III/IV p*
at 12 months stratiļ¬ed into three
tight (n = 21) moderate (n = 21) loose (n = 14)
groups depending on the
anatomic characteristics of TIF GERD-HRQL scoresāimproved by C 50% 18 (86%) 17 (81%) 11 (79%) 0.330
valves deļ¬ned by Hill grade and
adherencea Heartburnāeliminated 19 (90%) 17 (81%) 10 (71%) 0.122
PPI useānone 17 (81%) 18 (86%) 7 (50%) 0.091
Esophageal pHānormalized 48% 25% 33% 0.014
Hiatal hernia
None post-TIF 18 (86%) 14 (67%) 5 (36%) 0.002
None pre-TIF 12 (56%) 7 (33%) 4 (29%) 0.014
a
Valves not ļ¬tting into either Reduced 8/9 (89%) 10/14 (71%) 3/10 (30%) 0.250
category were excluded from
stratiļ¬cation Eliminated 7/9 (78%) 7/14 (50%) 3/10 (30%) 0.290
b
Patients taking PPIs were Esophagitis
excluded None post-TIF 15 (71%) 9 (43%) 5 (36%) 0.001
c
Normalized cardia None pre-TIF 3 (14%) 2 (10%) 3 (21%) 0.400
circumference if 34.3 mm Reducedb 12/15 (80%) 14/19 (74%) 4/11 (36%) 0.010
[41] b
Eliminated 9/15 (60%) 7/19 (37%) 3/11 (27%) 0.002
* The p values for among-group
Cardia circumference (mm)
comparisons reļ¬ect the exact
global test (Spearmanās rank Post-TIF 32.8 37.5 40.4 0.001
correlation) for the trend of Pre-TIF 43.3 46.8 41.3 0.050
lower Hill grade associated with Normalizedc 9/16 (56%) 4/12 (33%) 1/12 (8%) 0.040
better outcome
Conclusion quality of life, reducing symptoms, decreasing the need for
daily PPIs, reducing esophageal acid exposure, increasing
The 12-month results of this prospective multicenter study LES resting pressure, and promoting healing of esophagitis
showed that the TIF procedure using the EsophyX system in patients with chronic GERD. The obtained improvement
with SerosaFuse fasteners was effective in improving in clinical and pathophysiologic outcomes correlated sig-
niļ¬cantly with the quality of the anatomic reconstruction.
The side effects related to TIF were few and transient, and
the two esophageal perforations resulting from device
introduction underline the caution needed during this phase
Ongoing
GERD of transoral surgery. The clinical improvements obtained at
22% 12 months after the EsophyX-TIF1.0 procedure in the
study population dominated by patients with advanced
stages of GERD were encouraging. The tailored fastener
Cured placement technique (TIF2.0) is expected to further
Improved 56%
22% improve on these results and support the use of EsophyX-
TIF for the treatment of GERD.
Note
Fig. 5 Study population divided into three groups depending on the Based on the results obtained in the present study, the
degree of cure from gastroesophageal reļ¬ux disease (GERD) based on EsophyX/SerosaFuse system was cleared by the U.S.
the long-term clinical effectiveness of EsophyX-TIF. Cured: patients Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in September 2007
demonstrated clinically signiļ¬cant alleviation of their symptoms and and is indicated for use in transoral tissue approximation,
discontinued their usage of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy.
Improved: patients required only occasional PPI therapy and had full-thickness plication and ligation in the GI tract, for
reduced heartburn. Ongoing GERD: patients showed no alleviation of the treatment of symptomatic chronic GERD in patients
their symptoms and required daily usage of PPIs. Among the cured who require and respond to pharmacologic therapy, and
patients, 24% were āācompletely curedāā of GERD based on total for use in narrowing the GE junction and reducing hiatal
elimination of heartburn and regurgitation, completely healed esoph-
agitis, reduced hiatal hernia, and normalized or signiļ¬cantly reduced hernia of B 2 cm in patients with symptomatic chronic
esophageal acid exposure GERD.
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Multi-center trial of TIF
- 1. World J Surg (2008) 32:1676ā1688 DOI 10.1007/s00268-008-9594-9 Antireļ¬ux Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication Using EsophyX: 12-Month Results of a Prospective Multicenter Study Guy-Bernard Cadiere Ć Michel Buset Ć Vinciane Muls Ć Amin Rajan Ć ` Thomas Rosch Ć Alexander J. Eckardt Ć Joseph Weerts Ć Boris Bastens Ć ĀØ Guido Costamagna Ć Michele Marchese Ć Hubert Louis Ć Fazia Mana Ć Filip Sermon Ć Anna K. Gawlicka Ć Michael A. Daniel Ć Jacques Deviere ` Published online: 30 April 2008 Ć The Author(s) 2008 Abstract bleeding. Other adverse events were mild and transient. At Background A novel transoral incisionless fundoplication 12 months, aggregate (n = 79) and stratiļ¬ed Hill grade I (TIF) procedure using the EsophyX system with Serosa- tight (n = 21) results showed 73% and 86% of patients Fuse fasteners was designed to reconstruct a full-thickness with C50% improvement in GERD health-related quality valve at the gastroesophageal junction through tailored of life (HRQL) scores, 85% discontinuation of daily PPI delivery of multiple fasteners during a single-device use, and 81% complete cessation of PPIs; 37% and 48% insertion. The safety and efļ¬cacy of TIF for treating gas- normalization of esophageal acid exposure; 60% and 89% troesophageal reļ¬ux disease (GERD) were evaluated in a hiatal hernia reduction; and 62% and 80% esophagitis prospective multicenter trial. reduction, respectively. More than 50% of patients with Methods Patients (n = 86) with chronic GERD treated Hill grade I tight valves had a normalized cardia circum- with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) were enrolled. Exclu- ference. Resting pressure of the lower esophageal sphincter sion criteria included an irreducible hiatal hernia [ 2 cm. (LES) was improved signiļ¬cantly (p 0.001), by 53%. Results The TIF procedure (n = 84) reduced all hiatal EsophyX-TIF cured GERD in 56% of patients based on hernias (n = 49) and constructed valves measuring 4 cm their symptom reduction and PPI discontinuation. (2ā6 cm) and 230Ā° (160Ā°ā300Ā°). Serious adverse events Conclusion The 12-month results showed that EsophyX- consisted of two esophageal perforations upon device TIF was safe and effective in improving quality of life and insertion and one case of postoperative intraluminal for reducing symptoms, PPI use, hiatal hernia, and ` G.-B. Cadiere (&) B. Bastens Department of Digestive Surgery, Centre Hospitalier Department of Gastroenterology, Centre Hospitalier St. Joseph, Universitaire St. Pierre, 322 rue Haute, Brussels 1000, Belgium ` Liege, Belgium e-mail: Guy-Bernard_CADIERE@stpierre-bru.be G. Costamagna Ć M. Marchese M. Buset Ć V. Muls Digestive Endoscopy Unit, Catholic University of Rome, Rome, Department of Gastroenterology, Centre Hospitalier Italy Universitaire St. Pierre, 322 rue Haute, Brussels 1000, Belgium H. Louis Ć J. Deviere ` A. Rajan Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatopancreatology, Ā“ Ā“ Clinique du Parc Leopold, Centre Hospitalier Regional dāEdith Ā“ Universite Libre de Bruxelles, Erasme Hospital, Brussels, Cavell (CHIREC), Brussels, Belgium Belgium T. Rosch Ć A. J. Eckardt ĀØ F. Mana Ć F. Sermon Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Charite Academic Hospital, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (AZ-VUB), Universitatsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow, Berlin, Germany Brussels, Belgium J. Weerts A. K. Gawlicka Ć M. A. Daniel ` Department of Surgery, Centre Hospitalier St. Joseph, Liege, EndoGastric Solutions, Inc., Redmond, WA, USA Belgium 123
- 2. World J Surg (2008) 32:1676ā1688 1677 esophagitis, as well as increasing the LES resting pressure 12 months from a prospective multicenter trial with 86 and normalizing esophageal pH and cardia circumference patients that was intended to further evaluate the safety and in chronic GERD patients. efļ¬cacy of the TIF procedure using the EsophyX system with SerosaFuse fasteners. Introduction Patients and methods The need for a long-term treatment of gastroesophageal The study, designed as a prospective multicenter trial, was reļ¬ux disease (GERD) has become increasingly apparent conducted internationally at seven clinical centers under a during the past decade and a half as a result of the growing common protocol approved by each centerās ethics com- prevalence and incidence of this chronic disease [1ā6]. The mittee. Informed consent was obtained before enrolling likelihood of developing GERD increases with the severity patients in the study. of anatomic change and dysfunction of the gastroesopha- geal (GE) junction, which represents the primary defense Patient selection against reļ¬ux of gastric content into the esophagus [7ā12]. Restoration of the antireļ¬ux competence of the GE junc- The study population consisted of patients 18 to 80 years of tion at the anatomic and physiologic levels is critical for age with chronic GERD symptoms ([6 months) responsive effective long-term treatment of GERD [2]. to proton pump inhibition (PPI) therapy, as judged by Antireļ¬ux surgery has been shown to be more effective GERD health-related quality of life (HRQL) scores of B 12 in terms of patient satisfaction, clinical outcome, and health while on PPI therapy, whose symptoms recurred upon dis- care cost reduction than pharmacologic antisecretory continuation of PPI therapy for 14 days (GERD-HRQL therapies in the long-term management of chronic GERD score C 20 or a difference of C 10 between the scores on [13ā16]. However, side effects of the antireļ¬ux fundopli- and off PPIs). Pathologic esophageal acid exposure was cation procedures frequently compromise otherwise conļ¬rmed by 48-hour pH-metry using the wireless Bravo excellent postsurgical results [15, 17]. Persistent dyspha- pH system (Medtronic, Shoreview, MN, USA) [30]. To be gia, inability to belch and vomit, and increased bloating included, patients were also required to have a deteriorated and ļ¬atulence are common side effects that may persist for GE junction with Hill grade II, III, or IV [26]. Brieļ¬y, the more than 6 months following surgery and prove to be Hill grades were deļ¬ned as follows. difļ¬cult to treat [13, 18ā21]. To minimize the risk of chronic complications, a variety of factors must be taken ā¢ Grade I valves: presence of a prominent tissue fold into account, including the technical aspects of the opera- surrounding the endoscopic shaft tion [20, 22]. āāTailoringāā the valve seems to restore the ā¢ Grade II valves: presence of a moderately prominent physiology of the GE junction more adequately, allowing tissue fold; rarely opens with respiration and closes air to be vented from the stomach without jeopardizing the promptly efļ¬cacy of the antireļ¬ux barrier [12, 23]. ā¢ Grade III valves: a barely present fold; fails to close A novel transoral incisionless device was developed in around the endoscope an attempt to mimics antireļ¬ux surgery through con- ā¢ Grade IV valves: lack of a muscular fold; lumen of structing a valve at the GE junction, restoring the angle of esophagus stays open all the time, allowing the His, and reducing a small hiatal hernia with fewer side squamous epithelium to be viewed from below effects. The EsophyX system with SerosaFuse fasteners The exclusion criteria were severe reļ¬ux esophagitis grade (EndoGastric Solutions, Redmond, WA, USA) was D in the Los Angeles classiļ¬cation [31]; body mass index designed to reconstruct a valve through tailored delivery of (BMI) C 35 kg m-2; other esophageal diseases, including multiple fasteners during a single-device insertion [24]. biopsy-proven Barrettās esophagus, esophageal motility The EsophyX device and the corresponding transoral in- disorders, esophageal stricture, esophageal ulcer, delayed cisionless fundoplication (TIF) procedure were developed gastric emptying, irreducible hiatal hernia of [ 2 cm; or based on the current knowledge and understanding of the previously failed antireļ¬ux surgery. anatomic and physiologic functions of the GE junction that During the initial screening phase, patients were evalu- was derived from extensive research with open and lapa- ated for their medical history including GERD medication roscopic antireļ¬ux surgery [25ā28]. The safety and usage, and they completed the GERD-HRQL questionnaire efļ¬cacy of the EsophyX-TIF procedure were initially while on PPI therapy. The use of PPIs was then discon- demonstrated by 12-month results from a feasibility study tinued for 14 days, and other GERD medications, such as with 19 patients [29]. This article presents results at 6 and histamine receptor antagonists (H2RA) or antacids, was 123
- 3. 1678 World J Surg (2008) 32:1676ā1688 discontinued for 7 and 2 days, respectively. While off all Effectiveness assessment GERD medications, the GERD-HRQL questionnaire was readministered, and esophageal pH was assessed over a The primary effectiveness endpoint was patient quality of 48-hour period. life assessed by the validated 10-question GERD-HRQL This evaluation was repeated at 3, 6, and 12 months after questionnaire evaluating heartburn-related symptoms and the procedure. The assessment at the time of screening and patient satisfaction using a 0 to 5 Visual Analogue Scale at 6 and 12 months also included upper gastrointestinal (GI) [32]. The total GERD-HRQL scores were calculated by endoscopy and optional biopsy. Manometry and barium summing the responses to nine questions [33]; possible swallow radiography were performed at screening and at scores ranged between 0 (no symptoms) and 45 (worst 6 months but were optional at 12 months. symptoms). A C 50% improvement in the total GERD- HRQL scores compared to the baseline off PPIs was con- Procedure details sidered clinically signiļ¬cant [34, 35]. The heartburn score was calculated by summing the responses to the ļ¬rst six The TIF procedure using the EsophyX device was designed questions. Absent or rare heartburn (scores of B 2 to each to create full-thickness serosa-to-serosa plications and of the six questions, or a total score of B 12) was indica- construct valves 3 to 5 cm in length and 200Ā° to 300Ā° in tive of heartburn elimination. Patient satisfaction with their circumference [24]. The procedures were performed fol- current health condition was evaluated based on question lowing a standard TIF1.0 protocol under general anesthesia 10 as either āāsatisļ¬ed,āā āāneutral,āā or āādissatisļ¬edāā [32]. with either nasal or transoral intubation by a team of two Regurgitation was assessed as present or absent by a sep- physicians (surgeons and/or gastroenterologists) [24, 29]. arate direct question. The ļ¬rst physician controls the implantation of fasteners Secondary effectiveness endpoints were PPI usage, using the EsophyX device, and the second operates the esophageal acid exposure, hiatal hernia size, reļ¬ux endoscope and ensures continuous direct visualization. esophagitis grade, valve Hill grade, and lower esophageal The device is inserted transorally into the esophagus with sphincter (LES) resting pressure. These endpoints allowed the patient in the left lateral position. The hiatal hernia, if thorough, complete evaluation of the competence of the present, is reduced by returning the squamocolumnar antireļ¬ux barrier. junction to its natural position below the diaphragm using a The use of PPIs and other GERD medications, such as built-in vacuum invaginator. During a single insertion, a H2RA and antacids, was recorded. āāDailyāā usage of PPIs valve similar to that created through antireļ¬ux surgery is corresponded to a double dose, full dose, or half dose taken reconstructed by retraction of full-thickness plications and daily for more than 50% of the total number of days during tailored placement of multiple fasteners circumferentially the follow-up period. āāOccasionalāā or āāon-demandāā usage around the GE junction starting on the greater curve side of was deļ¬ned as less than a half dose or any daily dose of the valve [29]. PPIs taken for less than 50% of the total number of days Patients were instructed to consume a liquid diet during during the follow-up period. The designation āānoneāā was the ļ¬rst 2 weeks and a soft diet during the following used when not a single dose of PPIs was taken during the 4 weeks. PPIs were discontinued 7 days after the proce- speciļ¬ed period. Reduction of usage from daily to none or dure. In the event of symptom recurrence requiring occasional was considered clinically signiļ¬cant. medication, a āāstep-downāā protocol was employed; and Esophageal acid exposure corresponded to the percent- patients were returned to their preprocedure dose of PPIs age of total monitoring time at pH 4; it was normal if it and then weaned from them if possible. There was no TIF was B 5.3 [36, 37] or signiļ¬cantly improved if it was retreatment allowed in the present study. reduced by C 30% compared to that pre-TIF, a rate sufļ¬- cient to eliminate symptoms [38]. During the 48-hour Safety assessment assessment, patients were encouraged to engage in their usual activities [36, 39]. Periods of poor signal reception The incidences of anticipated and unanticipated serious and and capsule displacement to the stomach or intestine were nonserious adverse events were carefully recorded. Serious excluded from calculations upon review and recommen- adverse events were deļ¬ned as complications necessitating dation of a validation panel. hospitalization and medical or surgical intervention. Upper GI endoscopy was performed to assess the pres- Adverse events and symptoms were recorded and catego- ence and size of a hiatal hernia. A reduction in hiatal hernia rized using the Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities size of at least 50% compared to that pre-TIF was con- (MedDRA) classiļ¬cation system developed by the Interna- sidered clinically signiļ¬cant. The endoscopy examination tional Conference on Harmonisation (ICH) (http://www. also assessed reļ¬ux esophagitis following the Los Angeles meddramsso.com). classiļ¬cation [31] and the geometrical aspects of the TIF 123
- 4. World J Surg (2008) 32:1676ā1688 1679 valves by measuring their Jobe length, deļ¬ned as the length NC, USA). Continuous variables, summarized by medians (in centimeters) from the apex of the fundus to the valve lip and ranges, were considered to represent the population [40] and circumference, deļ¬ned as the distance in degrees main trends because of the generally skewed data distri- between the two most distant fasteners. The valve geom- bution (as indicated by asymmetrical ranges around the etry was evaluated based on the adherence to the medians). Categorical variables were summarized as endoscope as tight, moderate, or loose and the Hill grade counts and percentages. The p values for changes at 6 or [26], as described above. A one-grade reduction in 12 months compared to pre-TIF were calculated using esophagitis or Hill grade at 12 months compared to that Wilcoxonās signed rank, sign, McNemarās test, or the pre-TIF was considered clinically signiļ¬cant. Mann-Whitney test. Values of p 0.05 were considered Cardia circumference was evaluated retrospectively signiļ¬cant. using cardia circumference measurement software and The results at 12 months were stratiļ¬ed into three cat- static retroļ¬exed images [41]. A total of 41 patients with egories depending on the Hill grade and TIF valve clear retroļ¬exed views of the cardia before and 12 months adherence: Hill grade I, tight; Hill grade II, moderate; Hill after TIF and the known caliber of the gastroscope were grade III/IV, loose. Patients with valves that did not ļ¬t into considered eligible for cardia circumference measure- the listed categories were excluded from the stratiļ¬cation ments. A total of 15 measurements (three images measured analysis. Differences among Hill grade groups and follow- ļ¬ve times each) were taken for each patient and follow-up up visits were tested for signiļ¬cance using Spearmanās period after the validated protocol [41] and were used to rank correlation or the Kruskal-Wallis test of the equality calculate the mean cardia circumference. A mean cardia of medians. circumference of 34.3 mm was considered normal [41]. Percentage reduction in esophagitis grade was also Esophageal manometry was performed in the usual fashion calculated without the patients taking daily or occasional using a stationary pull-through technique [42]. A LES resting PPIs at 12 months to avoid a type 1 error, as the usage of pressure of 10 to 40 mmHg was considered normal [43]. medication represented a confounding variable to the effect Values post-TIF represented the latest follow-up measure. of TIF on esophagitis improvement. Effectiveness endpoints were evaluated after discontinu- Predictors of clinical effectiveness at 12 months were ation of PPIs for at least 14 days before TIF and evaluated through nonparametric Spearmanās rank corre- postoperative follow-up visits at 3, 6, and 12 months. lation coefļ¬cient between anatomic and pathophysiologic Patients served as their own controls, and the outcome values variables with continuous and ordinal values. Spearmanās at each follow-up were compared with those before TIF. coefļ¬cient (q) ranged from -1 to + 1, with negative values A global assessment of all outcome measures was per- indicating that one variable tended to increase as the other formed for each patient to determine the long-term decreased and positive values indicating a positive increase effectiveness of the EsophyX-TIF procedure in curing of two variables. GERD. Patients were considered āācompletely curedāā if they had no more heartburn or regurgitation, normal or signiļ¬cantly reduced esophageal acid exposure, eliminated Results esophagitis, and reduced hiatal hernia. Patients were con- sidered āācuredāā from GERD if they demonstrated Patient characteristics clinically signiļ¬cant alleviation of their symptoms (C50 reduction) and discontinued all PPI therapy. Patients were A total of 86 patients were enrolled between April and considered āāimprovedāā if they required only occasional December 2006 from seven clinical centers in Belgium PPI therapy and had reduced heartburn. Patients with (ļ¬ve), Germany (one), and Italy (one), with 4 to 27 patients āāongoing GERDāā showed no alleviation of their symptoms per center. Three patients (3%) had inclusion/exclusion and required daily PPIs. violations for which they were granted exemptions. Among A web-based data entry system (Simpliļ¬ed Clinical those patients, one had a pathological 10-question GERD- Data Systems, Milford, NH, USA) with case report forms HRQL score on PPIs of 14 but a borderline score off PPIs was employed for real-time data capture at each site. All of 20 and therefore a difference between scores of only 6; data were veriļ¬ed against source documents through reg- and two patients had a BMI of 36. In addition, later vali- ular onsite monitoring. dation of the pH reports identiļ¬ed one patient with a long recording period in the stomach resulting from premature Statistical analysis dislodgement of the Bravo capsule on the second day. The exclusion of this gastric period resulted in changing the Data were analyzed by an independent statistician using values of esophageal acid exposure to normal on the worst SAS statistical software version 8.0 (SAS Institute, Cary, day (3% time pH 4 and 13.1 DeMeester score). This 123
- 5. 1680 World J Surg (2008) 32:1676ā1688 patient was subsequently excluded from analysis of pH-metry data. The enrolled 86 patients were 19 to 73 years old (median 44 years, mean Ā± SD 44.0 Ā± 12.5 years) (Table 1). Over- all, the patients had suffered from GERD for a median 6 years (1ā33 years) and were on continuous daily PPI medication for 4 years (1ā14 years). The median GERD- HRQL and heartburn scores pre-TIF increased (worsened) after discontinuation of PPIs from 9 (0ā22) to 24 (11ā38) and from 7 (0ā19) to 21 (10ā30), respectively. Before TIF, 100% of patients were taking either full-dose or half-dose PPIs on a daily basis (Fig. 1). While taking PPIs, 31 (37%) patients were satisļ¬ed, 25 (30%) neutral, and 27 (33%) dissatisļ¬ed with their health condition compared to 5 (6%) who were satisļ¬ed, 4 (5%) neutral, and 74 (89%) dissatis- ļ¬ed after discontinuation of PPIs. Esophagitis was present in 81% of patients, and 58% had a hiatal hernia with a median size of 1 cm (1ā3 cm) (Table 1). Hiatal hernias of 3 cm in four patients were successfully reduced perioper- atively. Biopsy revealed gastritis in 47% of patients and gastric polyps in 9%. Most of the gastroesophageal valves were Hill grade II or III (Fig. 2). The mean of 77 LES resting pressures was 13.1 mmHg (4ā30 mmHg). Three patients had LES resting pressures below the lower limit of 10 mmHg, but ineffective āāhypotonicāā esophageal motility disorder was ruled out because they had normal esophageal body amplitude pressure and peristalsis. Table 1 Patient characteristics at screening No. patients 86 Female/male 29/57 (34%/66%) Age (years) 44 (19ā73) BMI (kg m-2) 25.2 (17.1ā36.1) Hiatal hernia 49/85 (58%) Esophagitis 70 (81%) Gastritis 21/45 (47%) GERD history GERD duration (years) 6 (1ā33) [11 years 11 (13%) 6ā10 years 34 (40%) 3ā5 years 27 (31%) 6 months to 2 years 14 (16%) No. Patients on PPIs 86 (100%) PPI use duration (years) 4 (1ā14) [11 years 4 (5%) Fig. 1 Usage and dosage of proton pump inhibitors. TIF: transoral 6ā10 years 21 (24%) incisionless fundoplication 3ā5 years 41 (48%) 2 years 20 (23%) Procedure details Values represent medians (range) or counts (%) BMI: body mass index; GERD: gastrointestinal reļ¬ux disease; PPIs: The median procedure time was 77 minutes (28ā proton pump inhibitor 208 minutes). A median of 14 (7ā22) SerosaFuse fasteners 123
- 6. World J Surg (2008) 32:1676ā1688 1681 60% Pre-TIF were reported as dysphagia and lasted up to 1 week after 6 mo Post-TIF the procedure. All of these nonserious adverse events were 50% mild and resolved spontaneously. Chronic diarrhea, gas 12 mo Post-TIF bloat, and/or nausea were notably absent. Percentage of Patients 40% Three serious adverse events (SAEs) occurred in the study. The ļ¬rst was perforation of the proximal esophagus 30% during advancement of the device without ensuring ade- 20% quate visualization. The procedure was discontinued, and the injury was immediately repaired with surgical suture 10% following the standard care protocol for managing esoph- ageal perforations [44]. The patient was discharged after 0% 6 days with no sequelae. The second SAE was perforation Hill grade I Hill grade II Hill grade III Hill grade IV that occurred during attempted device insertion into the Fig. 2 Hill grade distribution of the valves narrow hypopharynx of a patient with Turnerās syndrome. The investigators recommended this patient based on were used to construct each TIF valve. In total, 65% adequate endoscopic access, but the esopharynx space (55/84) of procedures were conducted by ļ¬ve teams of two proved to be insufļ¬cient to allow introduction of the gastroenterologists and the remaining 35% by two teams of device/endoscope assembly. The perforation was con- one surgeon and one gastroenterologist. Altogether, 89% of ļ¬rmed by computed tomography and surgically repaired the procedures were accomplished using a single device. after 2.5 hours. The patient was discharged after 21 days. The TIF valves had a median length of 4 cm (2ā6 cm) and The third SAE consisted of post-TIF intraluminal bleeding a circumference of 230Ā° (160Ā°ā300Ā°). All 49 hiatal hernias and a reported decrease in hemoglobin of 70 g L-1. The were reduced, including the 4 that measured 3.0 cm. patient underwent blood transfusion with 4 units of blood, Hospitalization stay was 1 day for all but one of the and the bleeding was stopped by applying clips endo- patients; the exception was a patient who experienced scopically and injecting ļ¬brin glue. The patient was intraluminal bleeding and was hospitalized for 5 days (see discharged after 5 days and remained in the study. later). A total of 81 (96%) patients at 6 months and 79 (94%) patients at 12 months (of the 84 treated) completed the Safety assessment follow-up assessment tests and were included in the clini- cal effectiveness analysis. Seven patients were lost to The most common adverse event was musculoskeletal pain follow-up (8%): Two patients with esophageal injury in the left shoulder for up to 1 month reported by 16 (18%) exited the study immediately and later underwent a lapa- patients (Table 2). Other events included abdominal pain roscopic Nissen fundoplication (LNF); two patients exited (15%), sore throat (8%), nausea (8%), and epigastric pain the study before the 3-month follow-up (one underwent (7%). Difļ¬culty swallowing associated with a sore throat LNF); one patient failed to return at the 6-month follow-up visit but returned for the 12-month visit; and three patients Table 2 Adverse events after the EsophyX-TIF procedure catego- could not be contacted or were unable to make their rized by the MedDRA classiļ¬cation system and grouped by their 12-month visit. The patients lost to follow-up were inclu- duration ded in the safety analysis but excluded from the clinical Adverse event B1 Week 1 Week to 1 month [1 Month assessment because of the lack of data. Musculoskeletal pain 8 (9%) 8 (9%) Clinical effectiveness at 12 months Abdominal pain upper 8 (9%) 4 (5%) 1 (1%) Pharyngolaryngeal pain 6 (7%) 1 (1%) The GERD-HRQL scores improved signiļ¬cantly, by 68%, Nausea 6 (7%) 1 (1%) compared to those before TIF and off PPIs (Table 3). A Epigastric pain 4 (5%) 2 (2%) clinically signiļ¬cant improvement in GERD-HRQL scores Application site bleeding 5 (6%) was achieved by 73% of patients (Table 3). Heartburn scores Pyrexia 3 (4%) were signiļ¬cantly reduced in 75% of patients compared to Dysphagia 3 (4%) those off PPIs (Table 3). Regurgitation experienced while on Diarrhea 2 (2%) and off PPIs was signiļ¬cantly (p = 0.02) reduced in 55% Vomiting 2 (2%) and 59% of patients, respectively. Complete symptom Values represent number of patients experiencing an adverse event elimination (GERD-HRQL score B 12) was experienced by for each of the time periods 75% of patients; and 65% of patients were satisļ¬ed, 12% 123
- 7. 1682 World J Surg (2008) 32:1676ā1688 Table 3 GERD health-related Parameter PreāTIF (n = 82) 6 Months Post-TIF 12 Months Post-TIF quality of life scores and (n = 81) (n = 79) symptoms GERD-HRQL score Median (range) off PPIs 24 (11ā38) 5 (0ā24) 7 (0ā30) Median % reduction vs. pre-TIF off PPIs 80% 68% p 0.0001 0.0001 No. reduced by C50% 62 (77%) 58 (73%) No. eliminated 65 (80%) 59 (75%) Median (range) on PPIs 9 (0ā22) ā ā Median % reduction vs. pre-TIF on PPIs 50% 22% p 0.05 [0.05 Heartburn score Median (range) off PPIs 21 (10ā30) 4 (0ā19) 6 (0ā26) Median % reduction vs. pre-TIF off PPIs 79% 67% p 0.0001 0.0001 No. reduced by C50% 62 (77%) 59 (75%) No. eliminateda 70 (86%) 61 (77%) Median (range) on PPIs 7 (0ā19) ā ā HRQL: health-related quality of Median % reduction vs. pre-TIF on PPIs 43% 22% life; TIF: transoral incisionless fundoplication p 0.05 [0.05 a Deļ¬ned by a total score Regurgitation of B12 with each of the six No. off PPIs 60 (74%) 24 (30%) 25 (32%) questions evaluated as rare No. eliminated 37 (62%) 34 (59%) (score B2) neutral, and 20% dissatisļ¬ed with their health condition. improvement in GERD-HRQL scores, 86% cessation of Cessation of daily PPIs was reported by 85% of patients daily PPIs, 48% normalization of esophageal acid expo- (Table 4). The esophageal acid exposure time was signiļ¬- sure, and more than 80% reduction in their hiatal hernias cantly reduced or normalized in 61% of patients (Table 5). and esophagitis (Table 7). The improvements obtained by The mean LES resting pressure was increased signiļ¬- these patients were signiļ¬cantly better than those obtained cantly (p 0.001), by 53%, to 18.2 mmHg (4ā43, n = 75) in patients with Hill grade III/IV valves in terms of (Fig. 3). esophageal acid normalization, hiatal hernia reduction, Upper GI endoscopy revealed that the TIF valves (Fig. 4) esophagitis reduction and elimination, and cardia circum- were 2.5 cm (1ā5 cm) in length and 180Ā° (0Ā°ā280Ā°) cir- ference size and normalization. Among-group comparison cumference. Most of the TIF valves were Hill grade I or II revealed that the patients in all three groups had the same (Fig. 2, Table 6). Among the valves with Hill grade III/IV level of GE junction deterioration at screening (median Hill before TIF, 54% experienced a clinically signiļ¬cant grade III), a similar median age (p = 0.3), BMI (p = 0.4), improvement to Hill grade I or II. Gastritis and polyps were sex and race ratio (p = 0.3), and duration of GERD and absent. Hiatal hernias present in 36% of patients at PPI usage (p [ 0.05); they differed signiļ¬cantly (p 0.05) 12 months were reduced in size in 60% of cases (Table 6); in the occurrence and size of their hiatal hernias and the the reduction was associated with a reduction of esophagitis LES resting pressure: 16.4 Ā± 1.4 for Hill grade I, in 57% of those patients. Among patients with esophagitis 13.0 Ā± 1.3 for Hill grade II, and 11.7 Ā± 1.1 for Hill grade before TIF, 62% experienced a signiļ¬cant grade reduction III/IV (p = 0.045). and 40% total elimination. Among those patients with Global assessment revealed that 56% of patients healed esophagitis, 68% had grade A before TIF, 24% had (n = 45) were āācuredāā of their GERD based on the clin- grade B, and 10% had grade C. Esophagitis elimination in ically signiļ¬cant reduction of their heartburn and complete 67% of cases resulted from eliminating the hiatal hernia and cessation off PPIs, which were accompanied with nor- reducing the Hill grade. Comparison of the results among malization or signiļ¬cant reduction of esophageal acid all three follow-up periods (3, 6, and 12 months) revealed exposure in 80% of cases (Fig. 5). Among the cured no signiļ¬cant differences. patients, 24% (n = 19) were āācompletely cured,āā as they Stratiļ¬cation analysis showed that the 21 patients with experienced total elimination of symptoms, esophagitis, Hill grade I tight TIF valves at 12 months experienced 75% and hiatal hernia as well as normalization of esophageal 123
- 8. World J Surg (2008) 32:1676ā1688 1683 Table 4 Use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), histamine receptor 22 53% Increase antagonists (H2RA), and antacids before and after the EsophyX-TIF 20 P < 0.01 procedure 18 Medication No. Daily Occasional None 16 PPIs 14 Pre-TIF 86 86 (100%) 0 0 12 mmHg 6 Months 81 14 (17%) 11 (14%) 56 (69%) 10 12 Months 79 12 (15%) 13 (16%) 54 (68%) 8 H2RA 6 Pre-TIF 86 3 (3%) 1 (1%) 82 (95%) 4 6 Months 81 0 1 (1%) 80 (99%) 2 12 Months 79 0 5 (6%) 74 (94%) Antacids 0 Pre-TIF (n = 77) Post-TIF (n = 75) Pre-TIF 86 0 18 (21%) 68 (79%) 6 Months 81 0 21 (26%) 60 (74%) Fig. 3 Resting pressure of lower esophageal sphincter (LES) deter- 12 Months 79 0 23 (29%) 56 (71%) mined by manometry before and after the EsophyX-TIF procedure Any GERD medication Pre-TIF 86 86 (100%) 0 0 6 Months 81 14 (17%) 25 (31%) 42 (52%) esophagitis. The remaining 22% of patients had āāongoingāā 12 Months 79 12 (15%) 29 (37%) 38 (48%) GERD as they continued to experience GERD symptoms Usage was deļ¬ned as āādailyāā when C half dose was taken for C50% and required daily PPI therapy. of the preceding follow-up period; as āāoccasionalāā when B half dose Correlation analysis at 12 months revealed a signiļ¬cant taken for 50% of the preceding follow-up period; and as āānoneāā relation (q [ 0.5, p 0.001) between the valveās Hill when no medication was taken during the speciļ¬ed period grade and hiatal hernia size, esophagitis grade, LES resting Values represent counts (%) pressure, and cardia circumference (Table 8). Esophageal acid exposure correlated most signiļ¬cantly with hiatal Table 5 Esophageal pH monitoring hernia size. Parameter Pre-TIF 6 Months 12 Months (n = 82) Post-TIF Post-TIF (n = 81) (n = 71)a Discussion Percentage of time pH 4 Median (range) 10 (3ā67) 7 (1ā29) 7 (0ā22) The patient population participating in this study suffered Median % reduction 31 33 from severe chronic GERD. Most of the patients had had p 0.001 0.02 GERD for more than 6 years, experienced frequent and Normalizedb 33 (41%) 26 (37%) severe heartburn and regurgitations, and used PPIs at a Signiļ¬cantly 46 (57%) 43 (61%) daily dose of 20 to 80 mg for more than 3 years. The high reducedc prevalence of hiatal hernia, esophagitis, and gastritis or normalized reļ¬ected an advanced level of the disease. Gastritis and DeMeester score gastric polyps have been associated with prolonged PPI use Median (range) 34 (11ā222) 24 (4ā107) 28 (1ā76) [45ā47]. Upper GI endoscopy conļ¬rmed that deterioration Median % reduction 28 24 of the GE junction (Hill grade II or III) appeared con- p 0.001 0.001 comitantly with the presence of high esophageal acid a Data were missing for eight patients because of technical problems exposure, esophagitis, and/or hiatal hernia. Patients with with Bravo (n = 5), contraindications due to other health problems similar characteristics are typically referred for antireļ¬ux (n = 2), or refusal (n = 1) surgery [15, 17] or treated with increasing doses of PPIs b Deļ¬ned by pH 4 for B 5.3% of the total monitoring time [36] [48, 49]. c Deļ¬ned by a delta of C 30% compared to baseline off PPIs The two esophageal perforations experienced in this study were associated with device insertion. They under- acid exposure. Most of these patients had Hill grade I or II line the caution required during this stage of transoral valves. The āāimprovedāā group consisted of 22% of surgery [50] and the need for careful pretherapeutic patient patients who experienced 80% reduction of their symp- assessment [23]. In approximately 330 TIF cases that have toms, were off daily PPIs, and had reduced hiatal hernia or been performed worldwide to date, these were the only two 123
- 9. 1684 World J Surg (2008) 32:1676ā1688 Fig. 4 Endoscopic images of gastroesophageal valves from two patients who had Hill grade IV valves, esophagitis A, and a 2 cm hiatal hernia before TIF. At 6 and 12 months post-TIF both patients had Hill grade I valves, no hiatal hernia, and no esophagitis known instances of esophageal injury upon device insertion procedure and was proportional to the extent of insufļ¬ation [51]. They might have been avoided by careful device and procedure duration. Epigastric pain experienced by 7% introduction under continuous endoscopic visualization and of patients was most likely associated with transmural se- by excluding patients with abnormal or unusually narrow rosal fastening. Pharyngolaryngeal pain, reported as sore esophageal anatomy. Additional reļ¬nement in the design of throat by 8% of patients, was assumed to be caused by the device may also help reduce this risk. The reported insertion of the 18 mm device and its repetitive rotations instance of intraluminal bleeding at one fastener site was around the longitudinal axis during the procedure. Nausea the only serious complication that resulted directly from present in 7% of patients could result from insufļ¬ation, the TIF procedure. Tissue compression inherent in the anesthesia, or manipulation of tissue at the GE junction that device design and delivery method most likely accounts for possibly stressed the vagus nerve. The postoperative dys- the low incidence of intraluminal bleeding. phagia experienced by 4% resulted from swelling at the GE The side effects reported after the TIF procedure were junction and resolved within 7 days without intervention. few, mild, and transient. Shoulder pain, which was reported Chronic side effects typically associated with laparoscopic by 18% of patients, is typically associated with antireļ¬ux fundoplication (e.g., dysphagia, gas bloat, diarrhea) [19, laparoscopic surgery and results from indirect or direct 20, 53] were notably absent after TIF. The difference in the irritation of the phrenic nerve and the resulting dermatome incidence of these complications probably resulted from response [52]. The abdominal pain reported in 15% of the absence of any surgical dissection and of wrapping the patients most likely resulted from insufļ¬ation during the greater gastric curvature around the esophagus, both of 123
- 10. World J Surg (2008) 32:1676ā1688 1685 Table 6 Endoscopic evaluation the durability of the reduction of hiatal hernias through TIF Parameter Pre-TIF 6 Months 12 Months was accomplished by tightening the phrenoesophageal (n = 82) Post-TIF Post-TIF membrane, which is one of the intrinsic components of the (n = 81) (n = 77)a antireļ¬ux barrier [55, 56]. The TIF reduction of small hiatal hernias was durable in 60% of patients and con- Hill grade tributed to the signiļ¬cant reduction in esophageal acid I 0 22 (29%) 24 (33%) exposure and esophagitis in the patients. Several studies II 35 (45%) 42 (55%) 26 (36%) have demonstrated similar beneļ¬cial changes in anatomy III 34 (44%) 10 (13%) 18 (25%) and physiology of the GE junction after eliminating a hiatal IV 9 (12%) 3 (4%) 5 (7%) hernia, especially in terms of healing esophagitis, normal- Hiatal hernia ization of esophageal acid exposure, and increasing the None 33 (41%) 58 (72%) 49 (64%) LES resting pressure [9ā11]. 1 cm 11 (14%) 7 (9%) 12 (16%) Restoration of the deteriorated GE junctions to Hill 2 cm 33 (41%) 14 (17%) 10 (13%) grade I tight valves resulted in elimination of GERD 3 cm 4 (5%) 2 (3%) 6 (8%) symptoms, total cessation of daily PPI use, and healing of Reduced 35/47 (74%) 27/45 (60%) esophagitis in more than 80% of patients. The level of p 0.001 p 0.001 effectiveness achieved at 12 months by 27% of patients Eliminated 29/47 (62%) 22/45 (49%) with Hill grade I tight valves was signiļ¬cantly correlated Esophagitis with reduction of the hiatal hernia, normalization of the None 14 (17%) 37 (46%) 35 (45%) cardia circumference, and the increase in LES resting Grade A 31 (38%) 26 (32%) 22 (29%) pressure. The demonstrated signiļ¬cant correlation between Grade B 27 (33%) 14 (17%) 14 (18%) the quality of anatomic reconstruction and the improve- Grade C 10 (12%) 3 (4%) 5 (6%) ment in clinical and pathophysiologic outcome measures Grade D 0 1 (1%) 1 (1%) provides compelling evidence to support the ability of the Reducedb 42/67 (63%) 39/63 (62%) TIF procedure to improve the antireļ¬ux competence of the p 0.001 p 0.001 GE junction. Eliminatedb 26/67 (39%) 25/63 (40%) Although the exact underlying mechanism of TIF valves a Data are missing for two patients whose examinations were con- remains under investigation, the total resolution of GERD traindicated because of other health problems symptoms and the healing of esophagitis achieved in most b After excluding patients taking daily PPIs, at 6 and 12 months of the patients in this study, especially in those with Hill esophagitis was reduced in 61% and 58% of patients and eliminated grade I tight valves, are strong evidence indicating that the in 39% and 37% of patients, respectively TIF valves contributed to a better mechanical barrier, thereby preventing GE reļ¬ux. Moreover, the durable and which contribute to the observed side effects after Nissen effective repair of small hiatal hernias, the signiļ¬cantly fundoplication [17, 20, 54]. increased LES resting pressure, the narrowed cardia, and The results at 12 months supported the clinical effec- the re-created acute angle of His support the ability of the tiveness of the TIF procedure in treating patients with TIF procedure to enhance the competence of the antireļ¬ux chronic GERD. The overall median improvement in barrier. The fact that preoperative hiatal hernias were GERD-HRQL of 68% reported at 12 months post-TIF smaller and less common among patients with Hill grade I resulted in a complete symptom resolution in 75% of tight valves (44%) than those with Hill grade II moderate patients. Although quality of life is subjective, patients valves (67%) and Hill grade III/IV loose valves (71%) at typically request treatment for their heartburn rather than 12 months suggested that patients with small (B 2 cm) or for their esophagitis or abnormal esophageal acid exposure no hiatal hernia might be the best initial candidates for this [2, 3, 15]. Although the reduction in GERD symptoms at procedure as they experienced the best outcome in terms of 12 months was similar to that obtained while on PPIs, TIF esophagitis healing and symptom relief. resulted in higher patient satisfaction than with PPI ther- The 12-month results demonstrated that the level of apy. The elimination of daily PPI dependence in 85% of clinical and anatomic improvements obtained following the patients at 12 months after the EsophyX-TIF procedure TIF procedure was sustained over time. Technical exper- was also encouraging. tise, the quality of the tailored valve, and careful The TIF procedure was shown to be effective in postprocedure patient management have been identiļ¬ed as reducing small hiatal hernias (B2 cm). EsophyX has been key factors for achieving the highest level of anatomic identiļ¬ed as the only transoral device that is capable of repair of the GE junction through TIF. Similar factors have reducing small hiatal hernias [50]. It was hypothesized that been identiļ¬ed for successful antireļ¬ux surgeries [57ā59]. 123
- 11. 1686 World J Surg (2008) 32:1676ā1688 Table 7 Clinical effectiveness Parameter Hill grade I Hill grade II Hill grade III/IV p* at 12 months stratiļ¬ed into three tight (n = 21) moderate (n = 21) loose (n = 14) groups depending on the anatomic characteristics of TIF GERD-HRQL scoresāimproved by C 50% 18 (86%) 17 (81%) 11 (79%) 0.330 valves deļ¬ned by Hill grade and adherencea Heartburnāeliminated 19 (90%) 17 (81%) 10 (71%) 0.122 PPI useānone 17 (81%) 18 (86%) 7 (50%) 0.091 Esophageal pHānormalized 48% 25% 33% 0.014 Hiatal hernia None post-TIF 18 (86%) 14 (67%) 5 (36%) 0.002 None pre-TIF 12 (56%) 7 (33%) 4 (29%) 0.014 a Valves not ļ¬tting into either Reduced 8/9 (89%) 10/14 (71%) 3/10 (30%) 0.250 category were excluded from stratiļ¬cation Eliminated 7/9 (78%) 7/14 (50%) 3/10 (30%) 0.290 b Patients taking PPIs were Esophagitis excluded None post-TIF 15 (71%) 9 (43%) 5 (36%) 0.001 c Normalized cardia None pre-TIF 3 (14%) 2 (10%) 3 (21%) 0.400 circumference if 34.3 mm Reducedb 12/15 (80%) 14/19 (74%) 4/11 (36%) 0.010 [41] b Eliminated 9/15 (60%) 7/19 (37%) 3/11 (27%) 0.002 * The p values for among-group Cardia circumference (mm) comparisons reļ¬ect the exact global test (Spearmanās rank Post-TIF 32.8 37.5 40.4 0.001 correlation) for the trend of Pre-TIF 43.3 46.8 41.3 0.050 lower Hill grade associated with Normalizedc 9/16 (56%) 4/12 (33%) 1/12 (8%) 0.040 better outcome Conclusion quality of life, reducing symptoms, decreasing the need for daily PPIs, reducing esophageal acid exposure, increasing The 12-month results of this prospective multicenter study LES resting pressure, and promoting healing of esophagitis showed that the TIF procedure using the EsophyX system in patients with chronic GERD. The obtained improvement with SerosaFuse fasteners was effective in improving in clinical and pathophysiologic outcomes correlated sig- niļ¬cantly with the quality of the anatomic reconstruction. The side effects related to TIF were few and transient, and the two esophageal perforations resulting from device introduction underline the caution needed during this phase Ongoing GERD of transoral surgery. The clinical improvements obtained at 22% 12 months after the EsophyX-TIF1.0 procedure in the study population dominated by patients with advanced stages of GERD were encouraging. The tailored fastener Cured placement technique (TIF2.0) is expected to further Improved 56% 22% improve on these results and support the use of EsophyX- TIF for the treatment of GERD. Note Fig. 5 Study population divided into three groups depending on the Based on the results obtained in the present study, the degree of cure from gastroesophageal reļ¬ux disease (GERD) based on EsophyX/SerosaFuse system was cleared by the U.S. the long-term clinical effectiveness of EsophyX-TIF. Cured: patients Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in September 2007 demonstrated clinically signiļ¬cant alleviation of their symptoms and and is indicated for use in transoral tissue approximation, discontinued their usage of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy. Improved: patients required only occasional PPI therapy and had full-thickness plication and ligation in the GI tract, for reduced heartburn. Ongoing GERD: patients showed no alleviation of the treatment of symptomatic chronic GERD in patients their symptoms and required daily usage of PPIs. Among the cured who require and respond to pharmacologic therapy, and patients, 24% were āācompletely curedāā of GERD based on total for use in narrowing the GE junction and reducing hiatal elimination of heartburn and regurgitation, completely healed esoph- agitis, reduced hiatal hernia, and normalized or signiļ¬cantly reduced hernia of B 2 cm in patients with symptomatic chronic esophageal acid exposure GERD. 123
- 12. World J Surg (2008) 32:1676ā1688 1687 Table 8 Correlation analysis between symptom intensity, esophageal acid exposure, and anatomic characteristics of gastroesophageal valves 12 months after EsophyX-TIF Parameter GERD-HRQL Esophageal Hill grade Hiatal hernia Esophagitis LES resting score acid exposure size grade pressure Esophageal acid exposure 0.259 p = 0.061 Hill grade 0.275 0.434 p = 0.040 p = 0.048 Hiatal hernia size 0.341 0.754 0.754 p = 0.111 p = 0.000 p=0 Esophagitis grade 0.400 0.266 0.628 0.495 p = 0.000 p = 0.054 p=0 p = 0.016 LES resting pressure -0.298 -0.396 -0.533 -0.125 -0.411 p = 0.185 p = 0.061 p = 0.009 p = 0.185 p = 0.014 Cardia circumference 0.362 0.287 0.803 0.704 0.530 -0.280 p = 0.049 p = 0.043 p=0 p=0 p=0 p = 0.133 Values represent Spearmanās rank correlation coefļ¬cients and the p values Acknowledgments We thank Rhimou Saidi, Nathalie Van Sante, 7. Stylopoulos N, Rattner DW (2005) The history of hiatal Ahmed Khalifa, MD, Vanessa Michels, MD, Carolina Gualtieri, hernia surgery: from Bowditch to laparoscopy. Ann Surg Liliane Collignon, and Marleen Stevens for their excellent assistance 241:185ā193 as study coordinators. The study was sponsored by EndoGastric 8. Jones MP, Sloan SS, Rabine JC et al (2001) Hiatal hernia size is Solutions, Inc., Redmond, WA, USA. the dominant determinant of esophagitis presence and severity in gastroesophageal reļ¬ux disease. Am J Gastroenterol 96:1711ā Financial Disclosure Statement Author Anna GawlickaāI was a 1717 full-time employee at EndoGastric Solutions and was responsible for 9. Mittal RK (1997) Hiatal hernia: myth or reality? Am J Med managing the trial, data analysis and preparation of the manuscript I 103:33Sā39S did not own any stocks at the time of the trial. Author Michael Daniel, 10. Mittal RK (1993) Hiatal hernia and gastroesophageal reļ¬ux: Vice President, Regulatory and Clinical AffairsāI certify that I another attempt to resolve the controversy. Gastroenterology was initially a consultant for, and then a full-time employee of, 105:941ā943 EndoGastric Solutions, Inc. during the EsophyX-TIF1.0 Phase 2 trial 11. Moss SF, Kidd M, Modlin IM (2007) The status of the hiatus: the and was responsible for study design and management including role of hernia in gastroesophageal reļ¬ux disease. J Clin Gastro- supervising co-author Dr. Anna Gawlicka and others involved in data enterol 41:S144āS153 collection and analysis as well as for preparation of the manuscript. 12. Rydberg L, Ruth M, Lundell L (1999) Mechanism of action of Portions of this data were used to obtain U.S. FDA 510(k) clearance antireļ¬ux procedures. Br J Surg 86:405ā410 for the EsophyX medical device. I own stock in the Company. 13. 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