LINX Reflux Management System in Subjects With GERD Who Have Previously Undergone a Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy (RELIEF)

A Prospective, Multicenter Study of REflux Management With the LINX® System for Gastroesophageal REFlux Disease After Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the LINX device in patients who have previously undergone laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) for obesity and have chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The study will monitor safety and changes in reflux symptoms.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease; GERD
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: LINX device

Detailed Description

The objective of this study is to confirm safety and efficacy after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) in subjects indicated for LINX is similar to the outcomes that formed the basis for the LINX Premarket Approval to support modification of the current labeling. Presently, there is a precautionary statement that safety and effectiveness of the LINX has not been established for prior esophageal or gastric surgery or endoscopic intervention.

Patients with GERD that have undergone a LSG procedure have limited surgical treatment options if they are looking for an alternative to continuous acid suppression therapy (i.e. proton pump inhibitors or equivalent). One procedure, fundoplication, is extremely difficult to perform as LSG patients have a limited amount of fundus tissue remaining after sleeve surgery. Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) may be chosen as a conversion procedure but is more invasive with the potential for serious complications. LINX may be considered as an alternative and less invasive option that may potentially have few complications compared to RYGB.

The study is an observational, multicenter, single-arm study with prospective enrollment. Based on the observational status of the study, no formal statistical hypothesis tests will be conducted. Up to 30 patients meeting the eligibility requirements will be implanted with LINX and followed through 12-months after implant. Up to twelve (12) clinical sites will enroll subjects. Safety evaluations will be ongoing throughout the duration of the study, starting at the implant procedure. Efficacy endpoints will be evaluated at the 12-month visit.

Safety will be evaluated based on the rate of serious device and procedure related adverse events (AEs). Safety will also be evaluated by endoscopy to assess the mucosa and x-rays to verify device location at 12 months post implant. Efficacy will be measured at 12 months (compared to baseline) by examining 3 variables: normalization of total distal acid exposure or at least a 50% reduction, at least a 50% reduction in total GERD-HRQL scores and at least a 50% reduction in average daily PPI dosage.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 30
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Arizona
    • Tucson, Arizona, United States, 85741
      • Northwest Allied Bariatric & Foregut Surgery
  • Arkansas
    • Rogers, Arkansas, United States, 72758
      • Mercy Health Northwest Arkansas
  • California
    • Los Angeles, California, United States, 90033
      • Keck Medical Center of USC
  • Colorado
    • Englewood, Colorado, United States, 80113
      • Institute of Esophageal and Reflux Surgery
  • New Jersey
    • Somerset, New Jersey, United States, 08873
      • RWJBH Univ. Hospital Somerset/Advanced Surgical and Bariatrics of NJ, PA
  • New York
    • Buffalo, New York, United States, 14203
      • Buffalo General Medical Center
    • Saranac Lake, New York, United States, 12983
      • Adirondack Surgical Group
  • North Carolina
    • Greenville, North Carolina, United States, 27834
      • East Carolina University
  • Ohio
    • Cleveland, Ohio, United States, 44106
      • University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center
  • South Carolina
    • Summerville, South Carolina, United States, 29485
      • Coastal Carolina Bariatric & Surgical Center
  • Texas
    • Amarillo, Texas, United States, 79106
      • Panhandle Weight Loss Center
  • Wisconsin
    • La Crosse, Wisconsin, United States, 54601
      • Gunderson Health System

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 22 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

INCLUSION CRITERIA

Subjects included in the study must meet all the following criteria:

1. Age >22 years
2. Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) for obesity >12 months prior to proposed device implantation date.
3. Subject is a surgical candidate, i.e. is able to undergo general anesthesia and laparoscopic surgery.
4. Documented typical symptoms of GERD for longer than 6 months (regurgitation or heartburn which is defined as a burning epigastric or substernal pain which responds to acid neutralization or suppression).
5. Subject requires daily proton pump inhibitor or other anti-reflux drug therapy.
6. Total distal ambulatory esophageal pH must meet the following criteria: pH <4 for >4.5% of the time. Note: Subjects shall have discontinued any GERD medications for at least 7 days prior to testing, with the exception of antacids up to the morning of testing.
7. Subjects with symptomatic improvement on PPI therapy demonstrated by a GERD-HRQL score of <10 on PPI and >15 off PPI, or subjects with a >6 point improvement when comparing their on PPI and off PPI GERD-HRQL scores.
8. GERD symptoms, in absence of PPI therapy (minimum 7 days).
9. If the subject is of child bearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test within one week prior to implant and must agree to use effective means of birth control during the course of the study.
10. Subject is willing and able to cooperate with follow-up examinations
11. Subject has been informed of the study procedures and the treatment and has signed an informed consent form.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA

Subjects should be excluded from the study based on the following criteria:

1. The procedure is an emergency procedure.
2. Suspected or known allergies to titanium, stainless steel, nickel, or ferrous materials.
3. Presence of ˃3 cm hiatal hernia as determined by endoscopy or barium esophagram.
4. Subject had any major complications related to the laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy that may interfere with, or increase the risks of the LINX procedure (such as, but not limited to, leaks from the gastric remnant and infection at the sleeve gastrectomy)
5. Plans to surgically revise the gastric pouch (either known preoperatively or decided intraoperatively)
6. Currently being treated with another investigational drug or investigational device.
7. Suspected or confirmed esophageal or gastric cancer or prior gastric or esophageal surgery or endoscopic intervention for GERD (with the exception of sleeve gastrectomy).

8. Distal amplitude <35 mmHg or <70% peristaltic sequences (if using Conventional Manometry). -or- If using High Resolution Manometry (exclude for any of the following):

   • Distal Contractile Integral (DCI) ≤ 450 mmHg·s·cm or
   • ≥ 50% ineffective swallows or
   • ≥ 50% fragmented swallows (Fragmented swallows are defined as those with a ≥ 5cm break [large] in peristaltic integrity).
9. Presence of esophagitis - Grade C or D (LA Classification).
10. BMI >35.
11. Symptoms of dysphagia more than once per week within the last 3 months.
12. Diagnosed with Scleroderma.
13. Diagnosed with an esophageal motility disorder such as but not limited to achalasia, nutcracker esophagus, or diffuse esophageal spasm or hypertensive LES.
14. Subject has a history of or known esophageal stricture or gross esophageal anatomic abnormalities (Schatzki's ring, obstructive lesions, etc.)
15. Subject has esophageal or gastric varices
16. History of/or known Barrett's esophagus. Note: The diagnosis of Barrett's esophagus requires both endoscopic and histologic evidence of metaplastic columnar epithelium. Endoscopically, there must be columnar epithelium within the esophagus. Histologically, the epithelium must be metaplastic, as defined by the presence of goblet cells.by
17. Subject cannot understand trial requirements or is unable to comply with follow-up schedule
18. Pregnant or nursing, or plans to become pregnant during the course of the study.
19. Any reason which the Investigator believes may cause the subject to be non-compliant with or unable to meet the protocol requirements.
20. Subject has an electrical implant or metallic, abdominal implants.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Other: Single arm study; Previous LSG patient will be treated with the LINX device and serve as their own control	Device: LINX device; The LINX device is a permanent implant placed at the area of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) and is designed to augment a weak LES and minimize or eliminate GERD-related symptoms.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Percentage of Participants Reporting Greater Than or Equal to (>=) 50 Percent (%) Reduction in Total Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)- Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQL) Score Compared to Baseline (Off GERD Medications) at the 12-month Follow-up	Percentage of participants reporting >=50% reduction in total GERD-HRQL score compared to baseline (off GERD Medications) at the 12-month follow-up were reported. The GERD-HRQL score consisted of 10 questions, where participants were required to answer each question on a scale of 0 to 5 (0: no symptoms; 1: symptoms noticeable but not bothersome; 2: symptoms noticeable and bothersome but not every day; 3: symptoms bothersome every day; 4: symptoms affect daily activity; 5: symptoms are incapacitating, unable to do activities). The total score was derived by simply adding the individual score of each question. The total score ranged from 0 to 50 where a higher score indicated more severe disease. The best possible total GERD-HRQL score was 0 (asymptomatic in all questions) and the worst possible score was 50 (incapacitated in all questions).	Up to 12 Months
Percentage of Participants Reporting Normalization of Total Distal Acid Exposure Time or at Least a 50% Reduction in Total Distal Acid Exposure Time Compared to Baseline at the 12-month Follow-up	Percentage of participants reporting normalization of total distal acid exposure time or at least a 50% reduction in total distal acid at the 12-month follow-up were reported. The testing was performed by a reflux sensing implantable capsule (for example, Bravo) or via a trans-nasal catheter. Success of the LINX device in decreasing abnormal levels of gastric acid in the esophagus was defined as normalization of distal acid exposure time (pH less than [<] 4 for greater than or equal to [>=] 4.5% of monitoring time) or at least 50% reduction in distal acid exposure time compared to baseline.	Up to 12 months
Percentage of Participants Reporting >=50% Reduction in Average Daily Protocol Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) Dosage Compared to Baseline at the 12-month Follow-up	Percentage of participants reporting >=50% reduction in average daily protocol pump inhibitors (PPIs) dosage compared to baseline at the 12-month follow-up were reported.	Up to 12 months
Number of Participants Experiencing Serious Device and/or Procedure Related Adverse Events After LINX Placement Out to 12 Months	Number of participants experiencing serious device and/or procedure related adverse events after LINX placement out to 12 months were reported. SAE is any AE that results in: requires subject hospitalization greater than (>) 24 hours; is life-threatening or results in death; requires prolongation of an existing hospitalization; results in persistent or significant disability/incapacity; results in fetal distress, fetal death, or a congenital anomaly or birth defect; requires intervention to prevent permanent impairment or damage of body function or structure; other serious important medical events that do not fit in the other outcomes and may jeopardize the participant and may require medical or surgical intervention to prevent one of the other outcomes.	Up to 12 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Torax Medical Incorporated
• Investigators: Study Director: William J. Petraiuolo, MD, Ethicon Endo-Surgery

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): April 5, 2017
• Primary Completion (Actual): June 8, 2021
• Study Completion (Actual): June 8, 2021

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 13, 2015
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 24, 2015
• First Posted (Estimate): April 29, 2015

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): August 10, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 8, 2022
• Last Verified: August 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: GERD; obesity; gastroesophageal reflux disease; Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy; LSG
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Digestive System Diseases; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Stomach Diseases; Gastroenteritis; Intestinal Diseases; Esophageal Motility Disorders; Deglutition Disorders; Esophageal Diseases; Esophagitis; Peptic Ulcer; Duodenal Diseases; Gastroesophageal Reflux; Esophagitis, Peptic
• Other Study ID Numbers: 4600; TRX_2016_01 (Other Identifier: Ethicon Endosurgery (Industry Sponsor))

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: No

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: Yes