Shaker Pressure Band for GERD

Overseen by Reza Shaker, MD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Travel: May Be Covered

Time Reimbursement: Varies

Trial Phase: Academic

Recruiting

Sponsor: Medical College of Wisconsin

Disqualifiers: Sleep apnea, Head/neck surgery, Carotid disease, others

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial is testing a device placed around the upper esophagus to help patients with severe reflux symptoms that don't respond to other treatments. The device works by increasing pressure to stop acid from moving up into the throat.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

What data supports the effectiveness of the Shaker Pressure Band treatment for GERD?

The Reflux Band, a similar device that compresses the upper esophageal sphincter, has been shown to reduce reflux events when used alongside standard medication for laryngopharyngeal reflux, suggesting potential benefits for GERD as well. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

How does the Shaker Pressure Band treatment for GERD differ from other treatments?

The Shaker Pressure Band is unique because it likely involves a physical or mechanical approach to managing GERD, unlike common treatments like medications or lifestyle changes. This could offer an alternative for those who do not respond well to traditional therapies. ^{2 3 6 7 8}

Research Team

Reza Shaker, MD

Principal Investigator

Medical College of Wisconsin

Eligibility Criteria

Adults aged 18 or older with GERD and related ear, nose, throat symptoms, chronic cough, choking, or regurgitation can join. They must not be pregnant or breastfeeding and have no history of head/neck surgery or radiation. Excluded are those under 18 or over 85, with sleep apnea (on CPAP), carotid artery/thyroid/cerebral vascular disease, bleeding disorders preventing nasal intubation, or esophageal obstruction.

Inclusion Criteria

You are not pregnant or breastfeeding.

You are at least 18 years of age.

You have GERD and experience symptoms such as chronic cough, choking, or food coming back up into your throat.

Exclusion Criteria

Patient cannot have previous head or neck surgery or radiation

The patient cannot be younger than 18 years of age or older than 85

The patient cannot have sleep apnea or be on CPAP

Trial Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive either the Shaker pressure band or a sham band for one week

1 week

1 visit (in-person) for band fitting and assessment

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in symptoms after treatment

1 week

1 visit (in-person) for symptom evaluation

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Shaker Pressure Band (Other)

Trial Overview The trial is testing the Shaker Pressure Band's effectiveness in reducing nighttime symptoms caused by acid reflux into the pharynx. It aims to see if this external upper esophageal band can provide relief for patients suffering from GERD-related discomfort at night.

Participant Groups

Group I: Shaker Pressure Band GERD patients with external laryngeal pressure Active Control 1 Intervention

One week of Shaker pressure band

Group II: Shaker Pressure Band GERD patients without external laryngeal pressure Placebo Group 1 Intervention

One week of sham Shaker pressure band (no external laryngeal pressure)

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Medical College of Wisconsin

Lead Sponsor

Trials

645

Recruited

1,180,000+

Dr. Joseph E. Kerschner

Medical College of Wisconsin

Chief Medical Officer since 2011

MD, specific institution not identified

Dr. John R. Raymond, Sr.

Medical College of Wisconsin

Chief Executive Officer since 2010

MD from the Medical University of South Carolina

Findings from Research

In a clinical trial with 31 participants, the Reflux Band device, when used alongside proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), significantly improved symptoms of laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR), with 55% of participants meeting the primary endpoint after 4 weeks of combined treatment.

The study found that the mean reflux symptom index (RSI) score significantly decreased from 21.9 after PPI alone to 15.5 after using the Reflux Band with PPI, indicating enhanced efficacy of the device in reducing reflux symptoms.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Upper Esophageal Sphincter Compression Device as an Adjunct to Proton Pump Inhibition for Laryngopharyngeal Reflux. Yadlapati, R., Pandolfino, JE., Greytak, M., et al.[2022]

In a study of 5796 patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD), approximately 14-20% experienced a partial response to proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), indicating that while PPIs are effective for many, some patients still have significant heartburn symptoms.

Partial heartburn response was more common in patients with non-erosive reflux disease (19.9%) compared to those with reflux oesophagitis (14.0%), suggesting that the type of reflux disease may influence treatment outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Partial symptom-response to proton pump inhibitors in patients with non-erosive reflux disease or reflux oesophagitis - a post hoc analysis of 5796 patients. Bytzer, P., van Zanten, SV., Mattsson, H., et al.[2022]

The North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition has developed a clinical practice guideline for managing gastroesophageal reflux (GER) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in children, based on a thorough review of medical literature and expert consensus.

The guideline outlines evaluation, initial treatment, follow-up management, and when to refer to specialists, providing a comprehensive framework for primary care providers and pediatric gastroenterologists to address GERD effectively in infants and older children.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Guidelines for evaluation and treatment of gastroesophageal reflux in infants and children: recommendations of the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition. Rudolph, CD., Mazur, LJ., Liptak, GS., et al.[2022]

The magnetic device for augmenting lower esophageal sphincter function in GERD patients showed significant and sustained improvement in reflux control over 5 years, with GERD-related quality of life scores decreasing from a median of 27 to 4.

There were no device-related complications such as erosions or malfunctions, and the need for proton pump inhibitors dropped from 100% of patients at baseline to only 15.3% after 5 years, indicating both safety and efficacy of the treatment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Long-term Outcomes of Patients Receiving a Magnetic Sphincter Augmentation Device for Gastroesophageal Reflux. Ganz, RA., Edmundowicz, SA., Taiganides, PA., et al.[2022]

In a meta-analysis of 14 randomized controlled trials involving 771 participants, proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy was found to significantly improve reflux symptoms in patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) compared to placebo, with a risk difference of 0.15.

While PPI therapy improved the total reflux symptom index, it did not show any significant advantage over placebo in improving the reflux finding score, indicating that while symptoms may improve, some clinical findings may not reflect this change.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Proton Pump Inhibitor Therapy for the Treatment of Laryngopharyngeal Reflux: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Guo, H., Ma, H., Wang, J.[2016]

In a study of 274 morbidly obese patients, 16% had significant GERD symptoms requiring treatment before undergoing Lap-Band surgery, highlighting the high prevalence of GERD in this population.

Post-surgery, 76% of patients experienced complete resolution of their reflux symptoms, suggesting that Lap-Band placement may effectively reduce GERD symptoms, contrary to some reports that suggest gastric banding worsens reflux.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Gastroesophageal reflux in obesity: the effect of lap-band placement. Dixon, JB., O'Brien, PE.[2013]

In a study of 43 morbidly obese patients, it was found that those with gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) had significantly higher acid exposure and lower Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES) pressure compared to non-obese controls.

After laparoscopic adjustable gastric band (LAGB) placement, most patients experienced a significant reduction in esophageal acid exposure, indicating that LAGB can effectively alleviate GERD symptoms in obese patients, although some patients with gastric pouch dilation did not benefit.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Abnormal esophageal acid exposure is common in morbidly obese patients and improves after a successful Lap-band system implantation. Iovino, P., Angrisani, L., Tremolaterra, F., et al.[2015]

Lifestyle factors like obesity, smoking, and alcohol consumption are linked to worsening gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), as they can lower the pressure of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES).

Despite the known impact of these lifestyle choices, clinical studies show mixed results regarding their direct relationship with GERD, suggesting that more research is needed to clarify these connections.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Lifestyle modification as a medical treatment for GERD]. Kurosawa, S.[2011]

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Upper Esophageal Sphincter Compression Device as an Adjunct to Proton Pump Inhibition for Laryngopharyngeal Reflux. [2022]

2. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Partial symptom-response to proton pump inhibitors in patients with non-erosive reflux disease or reflux oesophagitis - a post hoc analysis of 5796 patients. [2022]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Guidelines for evaluation and treatment of gastroesophageal reflux in infants and children: recommendations of the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition. [2022]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Long-term Outcomes of Patients Receiving a Magnetic Sphincter Augmentation Device for Gastroesophageal Reflux. [2022]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Proton Pump Inhibitor Therapy for the Treatment of Laryngopharyngeal Reflux: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. [2016]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Gastroesophageal reflux in obesity: the effect of lap-band placement. [2013]

7. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Abnormal esophageal acid exposure is common in morbidly obese patients and improves after a successful Lap-band system implantation. [2015]

8. Japan pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Lifestyle modification as a medical treatment for GERD]. [2011]