EndoGastric Solutions Opens Three Training Centers to Keep Up with Demand from Surgeons...

EndoGastric Solutions Opens Three Training Centers to Keep Up with Demand from
Surgeons Wanting to Learn StomaphyX(TM) Procedures

REDMOND, Wash., Dec. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Incisionless surgery is the most
significant advancement in surgical medicine in decades. It is being rapidly
adopted by a wide variety of academic and private hospitals around the world,
with over 700 StomaphyX(TM) and EsophyX(TM) procedures already performed
globally. Despite the fact that both StomaphyX(TM) and EsophyX(TM) just
obtained FDA clearance this year, over 50 U.S. centers have already been
trained to perform these Natural Orifice Surgery (NOS) procedures and over 20
additional groups are scheduled to be trained in December.
Today, 3 training centers that have performed over 40 StomaphyX cases each
and are starting to perform EsophyX cases are training surgeons in NOS
technique. Courses are offered twice per month, with either academic or
private setting options available. Current training centers include:
-- The Ohio State Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio
-- Munroe Regional Health Systems in Ocala, Florida
-- Mercy Medical Center in New York

Dr. Dean Mikami, Assistant Professor of Surgery at Ohio State University
(OSU) who performed the first StomaphyX(TM) procedure in the U.S., started the
first StomaphyX(TM) training center, and has trained the majority of surgeons,
states, "I have been very impressed with the performance of the StomaphyX(TM)
device and the evolution of the procedure. Before StomaphyX, I had very few
options to offer my patients. We have been performing a wide variety of
procedures with StomaphyX and are able to address multiple medical conditions
with one procedure. It is clear that transoral surgery is the way of the
future and we are pleased to be leading this medical advancement."
"It was clear to me from the moment I first saw StomaphyX that these
incisionless procedures offer tremendous advantages," reports Dr. Todd
Overcash, of the Florida Bariatric Center who is one of the original four
surgeons trained in the U.S. and has personally performed over 60 StomaphyX
and 10 EsophyX procedures. "With no scars, little recovery time, and
significantly better safety, patients from all over the U.S. are contacting me
seeking these procedures. Surgeons interested in developing their practice
should not hesitate to adopt transoral surgical products." Surgeons coming to
the training course in Ocala can observe how both StomaphyX(TM) and
EsophyX(TM) fit in a busy private practice and can observe the live procedures
from state-of-the-art observation facilities.
"This is the future of surgery and greatly reduces invasiveness and
complications," said Dr. Shawn Garber, Chief of Bariatric Surgery at Mercy
Medical Center. "EndoGastric Solutions is leading the way with by far the most
advanced instrumentation that moves us many leaps less invasive than
laparoscopy, since it eliminates both internal and external incisions. Now we
can offer patients the substantive anatomical change of surgery without even a
scar. Patients can go back to work as early as the next day and no one can
tell they have had a procedure."
Thierry Thaure, Chief Executive Officer of EndoGastric Solutions, stated,
"StomaphyX is a product that every surgeon doing Laparoscopic GI Surgery
should have in their armamentarium. Interest in these products and procedures
is tremendous and we now have 15-20 surgeons attending each training course.
The technology is safe, easy to learn, and offers clinical benefits in solving
the complications that can occur from surgery. We are enthusiastic that the
strong response of our surgeons demonstrates that the surgical market is ready
for Natural Orifice Surgery products such as StomaphyX(TM) and EsophyX(TM)."
The Ohio State University Medical Center will be offering a Continuing
Medical Education (CME) certified live case course on February 29th, 2008
entitled "Leap into the Future with Advances in Transoral Foregut Surgery"
that will highlight the EsophyX device, a live case TIF procedure, and
StomaphyX procedures. Dr. Scott Melvin, Director of the Center for Minimally
Invasive Surgery and chairman of the course, says, "EsophyX has the potential
to significantly change the treatment algorithm for reflux disease. EsophyX
allows for earlier treatment because of the reduced procedural risk and offers
the solution patients and physicians have been waiting for."
About EndoGastric Solutions
EndoGastric Solutions (EGS) is a privately held corporation located in
Redmond, Washington and Redwood City, California. EGS is a pioneer in
developing incisionless transoral procedures for the treatment of upper
gastrointestinal diseases, including gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD),
obesity and other GI conditions. EsophyX and StomaphyX are cleared by the FDA,
CE marked, and available for sale in the U.S. and Europe.
For more information about EndoGastric Solutions, Inc., EsophyX(TM) and
StomaphyX(TM), please visit:
In the US: http://www.endogastricsolutions.com
In the EU: http://www.egseurope.eu
Other locations throughout the globe: http://www.egsglobal.net

For more information about the Ohio State University Medical Center "Leap
into the Future with Advances in Transoral Foregut Surgery" course please
visit:
http://www.cmis.ohio-state.edu

Lisa Yeater
614-293-9072
lisa.yeater@osumc.edu

Contact Information:

Press Contact:
Adrianna Tozzi
650-610-9250 x232
atozzi@endogastricsolutions.com

U.S. Physician Contact:
Larry K. Fulton
Senior Director of U.S. Sales
EndoGastric Solutions, Inc.
lfulton@endogastricsolutions.com

European Customer Contact:
Karl Blohm
General Manager, Europe
Kblohm@endogastricsolutions.com
+33 6 7525 8382

This release was issued through eReleases(TM). For more information,
visit http://www.ereleases.com.
SOURCE EndoGastric Solutions, Inc.

Lisa Yeater of The Ohio State University Medical Center, +1-614-293-9072,
lisa.yeater@osumc.edu; Press, Adrianna Tozzi of EndoGastric Solutions, Inc.,
+1-650-610-9250, ext. 232, atozzi@endogastricsolutions.com; U.S. Physician,
Larry K. Fulton, Senior Director of U.S. Sales of EndoGastric Solutions, Inc.,
lfulton@endogastricsolutions.com; or European Customer, Karl Blohm, General
Manager, Europe of EndoGastric Solutions, Inc.,
Kblohm@endogastricsolutions.com, +33-6-7525-8382