US FDA Approves Tube That Sucks Fat From Stomach
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States has approved the use of a tube that lets obese people drain the contents of their stomach. The device lets the user drain or aspirate 30 percent of the calories that they consume.
According to reports, the new device, called AspireAssist is meant for people aged above 22 years with higher weight classes. Specifically, the device is suitable for people with a body mass index (BMI) between 35 and 55.
The US FDA approved the device based on the results of a clinical trial conducted on a subject population of 111 individuals. During the trial, the subjects were treated using AspireAssist, in addition to lifestyle therapy. After one year of the study period, the researchers found that people who used the stomach pump lost almost 12 percent of their total body weight, as compared to the control group (non-surgical weight loss) who lost 3.6 percent of their body weight.
AspireAssist is implanted in the stomach of the patient with the help of a surgical procedure. An endoscope in inserted into the body of the patient by making a small incision in the belly area of the stomach. With the help of the endoscope, a skinny tube is implanted in the upper half of the stomach. The tube is connected to a chip-sized port on the outer side of the abdomen.
After 20 or 30 minutes of taking the meal, the patient attached a small device to the port and opens the valve to empty some of the contents of the stomach into the toilet. It usually takes around 10 minutes to perform the emptying process.
According to the FDA, patients who use the device needs constant monitoring. The doctors might want to reduce the length of the implanted tube once the person starts to reduce in girth.
