Endoscopic Obesity Management
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Find a ProviderWhat is endoscopic obesity management?
Endoscopic management of obesity involves accessing the stomach and intestines through the mouth to perform bariatric procedures. This is done by using an endoscope which is a flexible tube that has a camera, light source, and several channels through which special instruments can be passed.
Endoscopic procedures have significant advantages over traditional bariatric surgery:
- No external skin incisions
- Less blood loss
- Less risk of complications
- Less pain after surgery
- Possible discharge on the same day
To learn more about the endoscopic treatments available to you, schedule an appointment with a gastrointestinal specialist at GI Alliance.
What are the common side effects of endoscopic obesity management?
The most common side effect of endoscopic obesity management is nausea. This can usually be controlled with oral medications. Usually, patients are discharged on the same day as the procedure and can return to work in a few days. If you’re wondering if an endoscopic procedure is right for you, contact the GI specialists at GI Alliance to schedule a consultation.
How do the different endoscopic treatments work?
The different endoscopic treatment modalities include:
Intra-Gastric Balloon: The balloon is inserted endoscopically into the stomach and it is then filled with normal saline/methylene blue solution. This creates a sense of fullness. The balloon is used for a period of 6 months after which it must be removed.
Transpyloric Shuttle: It is a large spherical bulb connected to a smaller cylindrical bulb by a flexible catheter. It is composed of silicone and causes satiety by producing intermittent obstruction.
GASTRIC RESTRICTIVE METHODS:
Transoral Gastroplasty: A part of the stomach is stapled or stitched endoscopically to reduce the capacity to hold food.
Transoral Endoscopic Restrictive Implant System: An implant is introduced into the stomach via an endoscope that has a narrow channel for food passage, creating a restrictive pouch.
MALABSORPTIVE ENDOSCOPIC PROCEDURES:
Part of the intestine is bypassed using an endoscopically placed liner which reduces food absorption. It also prevents the action of biliary and pancreatic enzymes that help with digestion. Certain implants can also be used to delay the passage of food through the duodenum, causing malabsorption.
REGULATING GASTRIC EMPTYING:
Endoscopic intragastric botulinum toxin injections may be used to delay gastric emptying and reduce hunger pangs. Another approach is the use of gastric electrical stimulation which has been shown to reduce gastric accommodation, delay gastric emptying, and increase intestinal transit, causing weight loss.
ASPIRATION THERAPY:
A gastrostomy tube is placed endoscopically to aspirate stomach contents a short time after a meal.
To learn more about the different types of endoscopic obesity management available to you by scheduling an appointment at GI Alliance with your GI specialists.
What are the common treatment options available?
Some common treatment options include the following:
Aspire weight loss: AspireAssist® (AA) is a nonsurgical solution that can be reversed. It involves tube placement into your stomach wall into your abdomen, allowing for food contents in your stomach to be aspirated.
Gastric sleeve surgery: This laparoscopic surgery places small incisions in the upper abdomen. A majority of the left part of the stomach is removed, leaving the remaining stomach as a narrow tube (called a sleeve). The food you eat then empties into the bottom of the stomach in the small intestine as it did before the surgery.
Obalon™ Balloon Procedure: Gastric balloons are inflated inside of the stomach, causing the feeling of fullness after eating a smaller amount of food.
Orbera® Managed Weight Loss System: The Orbera system involves a gastric balloon placed for six months. A thin, soft balloon is placed down your throat into your stomach. The balloon is then filled with saline until it is around the size of a grapefruit. This procedure can take around 20 to 30 minutes.
Schedule an appointment with the experienced gastrointestinal physicians at GI Alliance for additional information.
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