Ethicon Endo-Surgery to Showcase Broadest Spectrum of Innovative Bariatric Surgical Options, Physician Best Practices and Mobile/Web-Based After-Care Patient Programs at ASMBS

CINCINNATI, June 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- To address the need for more efficient and cost-effective bariatric surgical options to treat a variety of patient needs, Ethicon Endo-Surgery (EES), a global leader in surgical innovations, will showcase the broadest spectrum of bariatric surgical solutions and innovative technologies during the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) 28th Annual Meeting at the Gaylord Hotel and Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, June 12-17, 2011.  EES will also highlight the latest metabolic research and a new mobile and web-based post-operation patient care support tool, and provide access to physician best practices.

The ASMBS meeting is the largest annual gathering of bariatric medical professionals, attracting surgeons and others from around the world.  EES is the only company that supports all three of the primary bariatric surgeries — gastric banding, gastric bypass, and sleeve gastrectomy — both in the operating room and beyond.  

"In the last year alone we have seen great strides in the healthcare community's understanding and acceptance of the role of bariatric surgery in treating weight-related comorbidities, including type 2 diabetes," said Chuck Austin, worldwide president, Ethicon Endo-Surgery.  "EES is committed to working with healthcare professionals, payers and patients to advance that understanding and lay the groundwork for the next generation of better, more efficient and cost-effective surgical solutions that will help deliver improved outcomes and reduce the burden of obesity and related diseases."

Early Learnings Shared on Metabolic Research

One example of that approach is the Metabolic Applied Research Strategy (MARS) project, a collaboration with thought-leading surgeons, researchers and endocrinologists, including experts at the Metabolic Diseases Institute at the University of Cincinnati and the GI Metabolism Laboratory and Weight Center at the Massachusetts General Hospital.  The research is designed to help deconstruct, understand and reinvent bariatric procedures in ways that deliver improved outcomes based on fundamental research around obesity and metabolic disorders.

EES will host a meeting to share early learnings from MARS on Monday, June 13, from 7-9 p.m. ET in the Sun A Room on the Ballroom Level at the Gaylord Hotel and Convention Center. The following thought leaders in bariatric surgery will present at the session entitled:  "The Metabolic Applied Research Strategy: What has it learned, and what does it mean to you?"

• Dr. Lee Kaplan, Director of the Weight Center and the Obesity Research Center at Massachusetts General Hospital; Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School
• Rohit Kohli, MBBS, MS, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Metabolic Disease Institute, University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine; Co-Director of the Cincinnati Children's Steatohepatitis Center
• Dr. Eric Wilson, Assistant Professor of Surgery at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston; Director of the Minimally Invasive Surgeons of Texas (MIST); Chief of Elective General Surgery for the UT Department of Surgery; Medical Director of Bariatric Surgery for the Memorial Hermann Hospital-TMC

EES also is dedicated to expanding patients' access to care by educating the public, payer and physician communities on the long-term personal and public health consequences of unresolved obesity and the health benefits of weight loss surgery. 

Hands-On Access to Next Generation Minimally-Invasive Bariatric Technologies

In the EES booth, #406, surgeons will be able to see next-generation innovative technologies that are part of the REALIZE^® Solution, the company's comprehensive approach to bariatric surgery, including:

• Previewing the next generation in laparoscopic stapling — the ECHELON FLEX^™ Powered ENDOPATH^® Stapler, to be launched later this year. Powered ECHELON FLEX™ offers surgeons an innovative solution for tissue cutting and stapling by combining consistent and virtually effortless firing for enhanced stability at the tip, even in thick tissue and at awkward angles.
• EES' new 5mm ENDOPATH^® XCEL™ trocar enhanced with OPTIVIEW^® Technology was launched in June 2011. ENDOPATH^® XCEL™ with OPTIVIEW^® Technology is the only trocar designed to mitigate smudging of the endoscope or laparoscope during surgical procedures, reducing the need to re-clean the endoscope when it is reinserted into the trocar after cleaning, resulting in fewer interruptions(1) that may lead to maintained procedural flow.  

Physician Best Practice Presentations Help Advance Surgical Skills

Throughout the week of ASMBS, top thought leaders will share their insights and best practice techniques during "Theater Talk" presentations in the EES Booth. The schedule includes:

• Dispelling the Myths and Mechanisms of Action in Bariatric Surgery
  • Tuesday, June 14, 9:45 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.  Speaker: Lee Kaplan, M.D., PhD, Director of the Weight Center and the Obesity Research Center at Massachusetts General Hospital; Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School
• Bariatric Revision Surgery: When & What Surgical Intervention
  • Tuesday, June 14, 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.   Speakers: Kelvin Higa, M.D., F.A.C.S., Clinical Professor of Surgery at the University of California San Francisco-Fresno Medical Education Program and Alan Wittgrove, M.D., F.A.C.S., Wittgrove Bariatic Center
• Building a Digital Marketing Strategy: Heart on My Sleeve, reviewing EES' new online patient-education campaign, which can be found at www.heartonmysleeveblog.com
  • Tuesday, June 14, 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.  Speakers: Tim Pantello, Vice President Managing Partner, Tribal DDB NY
• Reducing the Potential for Stapling Leaks: Outcome Improvement Through Surgeon Device and Tissue Interactions
  • Wednesday, June 15, 9:45 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.  Speaker: Joe Northup, M.D., F.A.C.S., Medical Director, Principal Bariatric Surgeon, Mercy Healthy Weight Solutions
• Avoiding Complications in Sleeve Gastrectomy
  • Wednesday, June 15, 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.  Speakers: Raul Rosenthal, M.D., F.A.C.S., Department Chair, Bariatric and Metabolic Institute (BMI), Cleveland Clinic and Michel Gagner,  M.D., F.A.C.S., F.R.C.S., Professor of Surgery; Chief, Division of Laparoscopic Surgery, Mount Sinai School of Medicine; Minimal Access Surgery Center, Weill-Comell College of Medicine
• Evolution of Post-Op Care in Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding (LAGB)
  • Wednesday, June 15, 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.  Speaker: Matt Brengman,  M.D., F.A.C.S., Bon Secours Surgical Weight Loss; Dominion Surgical Associates; Chairman of the Department of Surgery at St. Mary's Hospital

Mobile After-Care Patient Application and Web-based Support Tool Designed to Help Patients Achieve Better Outcomes

EES is the only company to offer a Web-based clinical support tool for patients across the continuum of bariatric surgical procedures, called the REALIZE mySUCCESS^® Program.

At ASMBS, EES will launch a mobile version of REALIZE mySUCCESS^®. Patients who participate in REALIZE mySUCCESS achieve 15 percent more excess weight loss.(2) The mobile version makes it even easier for them to track goals, enter food intake, log their weight and celebrate successes more easily and conveniently, with less chance of forgetting.

Earlier this year, EES also launched "Heart on My Sleeve," an innovative online social media program that follows one patient, Tracy, throughout her journey as a sleeve gastrectomy patient.  Tracy's story can be seen on heartonmysleeveblog.com, Facebook, YouTube, and other social media platforms where potential surgery patients go to seek information. The purpose of the program is to provide potential patients with a way to relate to and experience the emotions and realities surrounding surgery, address common questions and concerns about bariatric surgery and help patients make informed choices.

About REALIZE mySUCCESS^®

REALIZE mySUCCESS^® was created in consultation with bariatric surgeons, dietitians, and behavior modification specialists who identified the things most likely to help bariatric surgery patients be successful, including building healthy eating and exercise habits over the first 18 months, and staying motivated, on track and connected with their bariatric surgery practice.

About Ethicon Endo-Surgery

Ethicon Endo-Surgery develops and markets advanced medical devices for minimally invasive and open surgical procedures, focusing on procedure-enabling devices for the interventional diagnosis and treatment of conditions in general and bariatric surgery, as well as gastrointestinal health, gynecology and surgical oncology. For more information, visit www.ethiconendosurgery.com.

(1) Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc., data on file. Based on benchtop testing.

(2) Source: Ethicon Endo‐Surgery, Inc., data on file. Patients who frequently use REALIZE mySUCCESS® lose significantly more weight. Based on 18 months of patient‐reported data from REALIZE Band patients frequently using REALIZE mySUCCESS® versus those infrequently using it. Frequent use means entering a weight at least once every 2 weeks.

SOURCE Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. (EES)