Ethicon Launches Comprehensive Solution For Bariatric Revision Surgery

Ethicon, part of Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies, and a global leader in bariatric surgery, announced the launch of a new comprehensive surgical solution for bariatric revision surgery that encompasses a portfolio of products and professional education and training for managing the challenges of reoperations. Ethicon’s Bariatric Revision Surgical Solution was featured at the recent World Congress of the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO 2018). 

Bariatric surgery has been shown to be the most effective long-term treatment for the disease of severe obesity, but in certain instances, patients may require revision surgery or a new treatment modality due to weight recidivism, changes in anatomy, inadequate weight loss or co-morbidity reduction or complications. Due to the nature and chronicity of the disease of obesity, lifelong management is required.

“When reoperations are required, they can be challenging due to the unpredictable nature and complexity of variables to which the surgeon may be confronted during surgery. These include such issues as adhesions, tissue type and thickness, unexpected or disruptive bleeding, and difficult access to the patient’s anatomy. This new portfolio of products and education from Ethicon helps the surgeon manage this unpredictability to the benefit of the patient,” says Alan Wittgrove, MD, FACS, FASMBS, Medical Director at the Wittgrove Bariatric Center in Del Mar, CA. 

Ethicon’s Bariatric Revision Surgical Solution includes a product portfolio designed to help surgeons perform bariatric revision surgery with precision, efficiency and consistency. It includes the HARMONIC HD 1000i Shears, an advanced energy device for precise dissection and secure sealing of tissue, the ECHELON FLEX GST System for exceptional staple line integrity across a wide range of tissue thickness, STRATAFIX Knotless Tissue Control Devices for suturing with consistent tension control, and SURGICEL SNoW Absorbable Hemostat for enhanced hemostatic performance, conformability, and tissue adherence.

Education and training also play a critical role in preparing bariatric surgeons for revision surgery and Ethicon is filling this important need with bariatric revision courses, symposia and interactive learning experiences offered through the Johnson & Johnson Institute, which brings together 26 professional education facilities and a network of online education and collaborative partnerships across multiple specialties.

“Over the last 20 years, Ethicon has invested significantly in the treatment of obesity and related diseases,” says Michael del Prado, Ethicon Company Group Chairman. “Based on this legacy of leadership and collaboration, bariatric surgeons, healthcare professionals and patients can rely on Ethicon to provide comprehensive solutions that help them effectively manage the challenges of primary bariatric surgery and revision surgery, and the disease of obesity, both inside and outside the operating room.”