(January 13, 2010; Henderson, Nev.). The San Martín Campus of St. Rose Dominican Hospitals is now using the HALO 360 and HALO 90 Systems to treat Barrett’s esophagus, a heartburn-related problem that damages the esophagus, the muscular tube that carries food, liquids and saliva from the mouth to the stomach.
When chronic gastric reflux occurs and exposes the lining of the esophagus to acid, this lining can be injured and break down. Untreated, Barrett’s sufferers are 125 times more likely to develop esophageal cancer – a type of cancer with cases that are rising faster than breast cancer, prostate cancer and melanoma. This cancer is 3 to 4 times more common among men than women and the lifetime risk of esophageal cancer in the United States is 1 in 200.
Endoscopic ablation therapy with the HALO Systems uses heat to burn off precancerous spots on the esophagus. This safe, effective procedure typically takes 35-45 minutes, doesn’t require surgery and is performed in an out-patient setting. The HALO Systems remove abnormal cells from the surface of the esophagus, without causing injury to the normal, healthy underlying tissues. The effect is similar to mild sunburn, where the skin peels off and healthy tissue regenerates the area. Patients typically recover quickly experiencing a sore throat or chest discomfort for a few days after the procedure.
According to Rod Davis, president/CEO of St. Rose Dominican Hospitals, “Remaining at the forefront of technological acquisitions and procedures that benefit our community has always been important at St. Rose Dominican Hospitals. Being able to treat patients who have Barrett’s with a simple outpatient procedure and to prevent the condition from becoming cancer is significant.”
“People who suffer from heartburn more than twice a week should have a gastroenterologist exam,” says Dr. Joseph Fayad, a gastroenterologist who performs ablation therapy at St. Rose. “It could be gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) which is treatable. If ignored, the constant backing up of stomach acid can burn the lining of the esophagus leading to Barrett’s and, in some cases, cancer.”
The HALO360 System used in the clinical trials was cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2001 and has been commercially available since January 2005. The HALO90 system was cleared by the FDA in 2006 and became commercially available in the U.S. in January 2007. Studies, including one study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, have shown that almost all patients can be completely cleared of their Barrett’s with a diligent regiment of ablation treatments using the HALO Systems.
About St. Rose Dominican Hospitals
St. Rose Dominican Hospitals – Siena Campus was recognized as one of the 125 best hospitals in America by a Consumers’ Checkbook survey, as reported in the May/June 2009 issue of AARP The Magazine. As the community’s only not-for-profit, religiously sponsored hospital, St. Rose Dominican Hospitals is guided by the vision and core values of the Adrian Dominican Sisters and Catholic Healthcare West (CHW). As the community grows, St. Rose’s mission is to serve people in need.
About BÂRRX Medical, Inc.
BÂRRX Medical, Inc. develops treatment solutions for Barrett’s esophagus, a precancerous condition of the lining of the esophagus (swallowing tube) caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD. Its main product, the HALO 360 System, provides a uniform and controlled ablation effect, which removes the diseased tissue and allows regrowth of normal cells. The HALO 90 System is the company’s second ablation product, which is mounted on the end of an endoscope and used to treat smaller, non-circumferential areas of disease.
