The FDA has approved a device co-developed by Eric Shah, MD, MBA, a 2019 AGA Research Scholar Award winner, and William D. Chey, MD. Their device, the Rectal Expulsion Device (RED), allows clinicians to diagnose and predict treatment outcomes for individuals with chronic constipation earlier than other methods.
Dr. Shah received the 2019 AGA-Shire Research Scholar Award in Functional GI and Motility Disorders for his work on the RED, “Office-based anorectal testing to diagnose evacuation disorders and predict outcomes with biofeedback therapy: The Rectal Expulsion Device (RED).”
The RED uses a tube and balloon mechanism to diagnose constipation-related pelvic floor issues.
“Currently, patients with chronic constipation see their primary care doctor who may prescribe different laxatives. If they don’t work, the patient is referred to a gastroenterologist who typically tries more laxatives,” Dr. Shah said to the University of Michigan.
“When that doesn’t work, the doctor might consider specialized testing to understand why laxatives aren’t working. Unfortunately, because of the complexity and cost, only a minority of doctors have access to this specialized testing. The RED device allows any doctor seeing these patients a simple way of identifying constipated patients who will benefit more from physical therapy and biofeedback rather than laxatives alone.”
Congratulations Dr. Shah and Dr. Chey!
