Endobarrier

Viewer CHARLOTTE emailed:

I would like [more information] about the plastic sleeve for by pass surgery. I just want to know are there any doctors in the Pgh. area doing this if so who?

Charlotte,

You're probably referring to the Endobarrier, a report that came to my station in Pittsburgh from Boston through CBS-Newspath.

Here's a link to a HealthDay article about it.

http://www.umassmemorial.com/SystemIP.cfm?xyzpdqabc=0&id=1381&action=detail&ref=24194

This is still an experimental device in early research. It is not available to the general public outside of clinical trials.

Early trials establish that a device is safe and works for what it was designed for. More trials will have to be done with larger numbers of people before the device can go before the FDA for approval. It can take many years to go through the process.

This is one of my concerns when I'm assigned to retrack a report about something still in research. People get the impression it's already "out there." Then the viewer feels disappointed and/or misled.

I try to clearly state in my tag when something is still being studied. There's always the possibility the research doesn't pan out. Reporting on it this early can lead to false hope, or at least, premature hope.

Dr. Maria

If you have a question for Dr. Maria, please post it in the comments below. Then look for a response in an upcoming post!