How is the Botox injected into the stomach?
Dr. Friedenberg: The first part of the procedure we provide sedation. We give them a medication similar to Valium to make the patients very relaxed and ready for the procedure. After that, we introduce a thin, flexible tube into the stomach called an endoscope to look down into the patient’s stomach. After we identify the pyloric muscle in the stomach, we then pass a small tube through the endoscope. It has a small needle at the end of it, and we then use that to inject Botox into the pyloric muscle. The Botox, also known as botulinum toxin, will then relax the muscle and allow food and liquid to empty the stomach on a more rapid basis. Is this procedure uncomfortable for the patient? Dr. Friedenberg: During the procedure, the patient is completely sedated. The procedure takes approximately 15 minutes. The injections are not felt by the patient and, therefore, are not painful. How many times does the patient require this Botox injection? Dr. Friedenberg: In our studies at Temple Univer
