MAgnetic Gastrointestinal Universal Septotome: a Safety and Feasibility Study (MAGUS)

In this study, the investigators aim at treating different pathological conditions, resulting in the appearance of a septum separating a healthy pathway and a pathological pouch. Food then stagnate in this pouch and results in different symptoms including dysphagia, pain and/or regurgitation or postprandial dysrhythmia.

Esophageal diverticula consists in the apparition of a pouch (diverticulum) alongside the esophagus. Some post-surgical conditions can result in the appearance of pseudo-diverticulum or afferent limb that transforms into a large pouch. One example is the candy cane syndrome, being an afferent loop syndrome post gastrectomy or post Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass, were the afferent limb becomes a structure similar to a large diverticulum.

All those pathological conditions could be solved by the marsupialization of those (pseudo-)diverticulum. For several years, Zenker's diverticula (pharyngo-esophageal diverticulum) have been treated endoscopically using this technique, providing good clinical results. However, it is difficult to go further than the pharynx with this technique, since it needs specific semi-rigid tools and a stable cutting position. Hence, for further septa of the GI tract, the classic treatment is thoracoscopy and thoracotomy or laparoscopy and laparotomy, depending on the site. Those highly invasive procedures have a significant mortality and morbidity rate respectively of more than 5% and 20% and are liked to different complications including abdominal pain, port site wound infections, intraabdominal collection or anastomosis ulcer.

The MAGUS device consists of a flexible catheter preloaded with a magnetic device, made of two magnets linked by a wire. Each magnet is attached to the catheter and can be dropped separately from this catheter. The magnetic device aims to create an anastomosis by means of compression, using magnetic force and a retractable wire pulling system. For a given septum, the magnets are placed on either sides of the bottom of it. The retractable wire goes then from one another, passing on top of the septum. Both creates compression necrosis. This process induces eventually a cutting of the septum.

Once the cutting is performed, the magnets migrate and are expelled through natural ways.

The MAGUS device is an endoscopic procedure. Above standard of care monitoring, safety assessment of the procedure and device performance decreases the risk and unforeseen events.