A new form of bariatric surgery that involves folding the stomach into itself has produced impressive weight loss results in a pilot study. Researchers are heralding the procedure as an excellent option for bariatric surgery.
Surgeons and patients alike find the new gastric plication procedure is appealing, as it uses a technique that is minimally invasive and has shown dramatically reduces the patients' stomach size. According to researchers, none of the stomach is removed during gastric placation, there is no stapling or cutting of the stomach, and no stitching used.
Done laparoscopically, the procedure requires no more than a half dozen incisions in the abdomen. The recovery period for this type of low-risk surgery is generally very quick.
There are other advantages to gastric placation: it costs less than more traditional types of weight loss surgery, it's safer than the older methods, and it can be reversed. Without the risks inherent in cutting or removing stomach tissue, there are fewer of the commonly seen complications associated with bariatric surgery, such as infections and excessive bleeding.
Results from the pilot study have shown that the stomach volume can be reduced by as much as two-thirds. With a smaller stomach, patients will eat less food and still feel full. As a result, the new procedure may eventually become one of the more widely accepted options for bariatric weight loss surgery.
The pilot study involved 12 women and 3 men between the ages of 26-58, whose average body mass index (BMI) before surgery was 44.3, which is considered morbidly obese. After having the gastric plication procedure, the patients reported weight losses ranging from 23 percent, for those who had only minimal amounts of their stomach folded, to 53 percent for those patients who had considerably more of their stomach folded.
In terms of outcomes, gastric plication can be compared to the sleeve gastrectomy. It ultimately forms a long, thin, tube-shaped and smaller stomach. Gastric plication stands alone in that no stapling, cutting or removal of stomach tissue is involved. The large area of the stomach is actually folded into itself, and fastened with non-absorptive sutures. In addition, none of the intestines are rerouted in this procedure, it doesn't lead to the various problems with malabsorption that can result from gastric bypass surgery, and no medical implants that require adjusting; such as those used in laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding.
As with every trial study, there are disadvantages that emerge from a new procedure. The main issues associated with gastric plication are related to the lack of any long-term data and results, and the problem of getting insurance companies to pay for the surgery. Currently, only a few weight loss surgeons are performing the procedure.
Researchers agree that the procedure needs further study to get a better understanding of the long-term weight loss outcomes. Nevertheless, gastric plication remains a very attractive alternative for patients who decide to have bariatric surgery.
Surgeons and patients alike find the new gastric plication procedure is appealing, as it uses a technique that is minimally invasive and has shown dramatically reduces the patients' stomach size. According to researchers, none of the stomach is removed during gastric placation, there is no stapling or cutting of the stomach, and no stitching used.
Done laparoscopically, the procedure requires no more than a half dozen incisions in the abdomen. The recovery period for this type of low-risk surgery is generally very quick.
There are other advantages to gastric placation: it costs less than more traditional types of weight loss surgery, it's safer than the older methods, and it can be reversed. Without the risks inherent in cutting or removing stomach tissue, there are fewer of the commonly seen complications associated with bariatric surgery, such as infections and excessive bleeding.
Results from the pilot study have shown that the stomach volume can be reduced by as much as two-thirds. With a smaller stomach, patients will eat less food and still feel full. As a result, the new procedure may eventually become one of the more widely accepted options for bariatric weight loss surgery.
The pilot study involved 12 women and 3 men between the ages of 26-58, whose average body mass index (BMI) before surgery was 44.3, which is considered morbidly obese. After having the gastric plication procedure, the patients reported weight losses ranging from 23 percent, for those who had only minimal amounts of their stomach folded, to 53 percent for those patients who had considerably more of their stomach folded.
In terms of outcomes, gastric plication can be compared to the sleeve gastrectomy. It ultimately forms a long, thin, tube-shaped and smaller stomach. Gastric plication stands alone in that no stapling, cutting or removal of stomach tissue is involved. The large area of the stomach is actually folded into itself, and fastened with non-absorptive sutures. In addition, none of the intestines are rerouted in this procedure, it doesn't lead to the various problems with malabsorption that can result from gastric bypass surgery, and no medical implants that require adjusting; such as those used in laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding.
As with every trial study, there are disadvantages that emerge from a new procedure. The main issues associated with gastric plication are related to the lack of any long-term data and results, and the problem of getting insurance companies to pay for the surgery. Currently, only a few weight loss surgeons are performing the procedure.
Researchers agree that the procedure needs further study to get a better understanding of the long-term weight loss outcomes. Nevertheless, gastric plication remains a very attractive alternative for patients who decide to have bariatric surgery.
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