Gastric freezing for chronic peptic ulcer disease is a non-surgical treatment which was popular about 20 years ago but now is seldom performed. It has been abandoned due to a high complication rate, only temporary improvement experienced by patients, and a lack of effectiveness when tested by double-blind, controlled clinical trials. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has concluded that this procedure is obsolete.

Scope of Policy

This Clinical Policy Bulletin addresses intragastric hypothermia.

Experimental and Investigational

Aetna considers gastric freezing (intragastric hypothermia) experimental and investigational for chronic peptic ulcer disease or any other indications because there is insufficient evidence to support its effectiveness for these indications.