Enteryx Implant for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Although pharmacologic therapy is safe and effective for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), patients requiring chronic drug treatment often seek alternatives. Surgical alternatives to chronic drug treatment are associated with increased morbidity and long-term failure rates in more than 50% of surgically treated patients. Newer endoluminal therapies using modifications of standard endoscopy techniques are under evaluation as alternatives to chronic drug treatment or surgical intervention for GERD. Appropriate patient selection is KEY. Patients considered for any endoluminal therapy should have well documented GERD and demonstrated appropriate and successful response to medical therapy with a proton pump inhibitor (PPI). The Enteryx implant is an injectable biocompatible polymer approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the management of GERD symptoms. Clinical trial data indicate that the Enteryx procedure is a safe and effective GERD treatment that manages symptoms of GERD and addresses the underlying anatomic and functional aspects of the disorder. Multicenter clinical trials have shown that the Enteryx procedure safely and effectively eliminates or significantly reduces PPI use in approximately 84% of patients at 1 year and 72% of patients at two years. The risk-benefit profile of this procedure and alternative treatment options should be carefully evaluated for each patient considered a candidate for Enteryx and all endoluminal therapies. Randomized-controlled studies comparing the Enteryx procedure to placebo and cost-effective analyses comparing treatment options will further define the use of the Enteryx implant in patients with GERD.