An advanced diagnostic tool that can help expediate accurate diagnosis of oesophageal motility disorders has been given the green light in Europe.
Medtronic have announced that its next generation EndoflipTM 300 system has received CE Mark approval.
Endoflip is a game-changing innovation from healthcare technology leader Medtronic: it measures pressure and dimensions in the oesophagus and pylorus.
It could help thousands of patients with oesophageal motility disorders achieve an earlier diagnosis. Research suggests these disorders are missed in roughly 50% of endoscopies and patients can wait years to be diagnosed.
“Medtronic is committed to transforming oesophageal care for patients by providing physicians with cutting-edge solutions to their clinical challenges,” comments Darin Wilson, Medtronic Endoscopy Business Unit Leader, Western Europe.
“We are excited to have received CE Mark approval for Endoflip 300, which will help gastroenterologists and GI surgeons across Europe diagnose oesophageal motility disorders much earlier, plan and implement precise and effective treatment and, ultimately, improve patient outcomes.”
Timely diagnosis of these conditions is key to improving patient outcomes.
As pinpointing the underlying cause of patient symptoms can be very difficult, Endoflip represents a valuable tool as a convenient, well tolerated method for assessment.
It can be performed under sedation in around 5 minutes and can be utilised from the very first endoscopy.
Dr Rehan Haidry, Clinical Lead of Endoscopy and Consultant Gastroenterologist at the Cleveland Clinic, London explains: “Endoflip is a game changer for us.
“Oesophageal motility disorders are notorious for being hard to spot and patients are often given the wrong diagnosis.
“I’ve seen patients with symptoms for over a decade, undergoing numerous inconclusive endoscopies.
“Endoflip provides us with a significant advantage: by guiding diagnosis and treatment early on, Endoflip can drastically improve patient outcomes.”
Endoflip TM 300
Oesophageal motility disorders affect the normal functioning of the oesophagus.
They can disrupt the normal swallowing process (peristalsis) causing symptoms such as difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), chest pain, regurgitation, and heartburn.
The best-defined oesophageal motility disorder, achalasia, is rare with a prevalence of up to 15.7 per 100,000, while gastroparesis has a prevalence of 13.8 per 100,000 in Europe.
But these conditions are misdiagnosed in up to 50 per cent of endoscopies meaning, in Europe alone, there could be thousands more people living with these conditions that haven’t been diagnosed.
Misdiagnoses can lead to repeated unnecessary (and sometimes distressing) tests on patients.
Repeated endoscopies are also costly.
Depending on the healthcare system (and whether procedures are performed publicly or privately) costs can vary, however, upper GI endoscopies typically cost €2,000 – €4,000 in Western Europe, and sometimes as much as €7,000 (meanwhile, patients suffer poor quality of life due to ongoing symptoms).
Endoflip uses a balloon catheter to display diameter estimates of the measurement area in real-time.
It can measure and display diameter estimates at up to 16 points within the balloon while also displaying balloon pressure.
This allows for a more precise diagnosis and treatment planning from the very first endoscopy, preventing unnecessary distress for patients.
Professor Silvana Perretta, Upper gastro-intestinal surgeon, from the Nouvel Hôpital Civil (NHC) University Hospital, Strasbourg concludes: “This innovation is pivotal in delivering more precise care, particularly in the era of precision surgery and treatment.
“A smart imaging probe for smart diagnosis can save health care dollars and improve patient’s lives”.
Visit https://www.medtronic.com/covidien/en-gb/products/motility-testing/endoflip-impedance-planimetry-system.html for more information.
