Major medical congresses this fall showcased the role of Stretta in the treatment ofgastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Sessions featuring Stretta were part of the educational programs at Obesity Week, the International Federation for Surgery of Obesity (IFSO), American College of Surgeons (ACS), and the World Organization for Specialized Studies on Diseases of the Esophagus (OESO).

At OESO in Monaco, George Triadafilopoulos, MD, Clinical Professor of Medicine at Stanford University, led a session on Stretta for GERD. Serhat Bor, Professor of Gastroenterology at Ege University School of Medicine, Izmir Turkey, and Kevin Reavis, MD of The Oregon Clinic in Portland, examined Stretta's use to treat chronic GERD in a variety of patients, including drug resistant GERD; GERD with symptoms such as chronic cough, hoarseness, or asthma; GERD in the obese population; those with GERD after bariatric surgery; and those with GERD despite anti-reflux surgery.

“More than a decade of compelling evidence shows that Stretta is a safe, effective, and long-lasting solution for patients with GERD,” stated Dr. Triadafilopoulos.

During the IFSO program in Vienna, Samer Mattar, MD of Oregon Health & Science University, presented Stretta and led the educational training session. According to Dr. Mattar, patients whose GERD is not well-controlled by PPI's are good candidates for Stretta, especially bariatric patients. Dr. Mattar explained, “Chronic GERD after bariatric surgery is difficult to treat. Stretta is a logical treatment option when medications are ineffective or undesirable, providing symptom relief without additional surgery.”

The ACS meeting in Chicago featured Stretta in two training labs and sessions discussing GERD in patients after bariatric surgery.

During Obesity Week in Los Angeles, Stretta was featured during the educational training course as well as in the panel session entitled, Managing Reflux in the Bariatric Patient. The topics included; conversion from Sleeve Gastrectomy to Gastric Bypass, and Stretta as an option to treat GERD after bariatric surgery. Dana Portenier, MD, Division Chief, Duke Metabolic and Weight Loss Surgery, Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine; Chair, Department of Surgery, Duke Regional Hospital; and Co-Director, Minimally Invasive and Bariatric Surgery Fellowship Program, presented Stretta as a novel treatment for this patient. He explained, “Stretta is an endoscopic, non-surgical procedure, that leaves the patient anatomy intact. Stretta is backed by 10-year data and a SAGES Guideline that rated Stretta with the highest-grade recommendation. In our initial patient series, 9 out of 10 patients had complete resolution of their symptoms after Stretta.”  Noting the challenges of this patient population he added, “We owe it to our patients to try and avoid a revisional surgery, Stretta makes a lot of sense here.”