Transoral Weight Loss Surgery
Surgical treatment can be done with the help of endoscopes, long flexible tools that can be introduced through natural openings. We are using these endoscopic techniques with increasing frequency as new instruments have become available that allow surgeons to treat patients through these less invasive methods.
Revisional surgery following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass:
After a thorough re-evaluation, patients with a structural problem with their previous gastric bypass procedure may benefit from endoscopic transoral revisional surgery to tighten the passageway from pouch to small bowel. This least invasive approach may also be used to treat GERD-gastro-esophageal reflux disease.
Regain weight may have a number of causes:
- Increase consumption of soft or liquid foods
- Increased consumption of sweets
- Abnormal expansion of the small stomach pouch and connection to the bowel (anastomosis)
After a thorough re-evaluation, patients with a structural problem to their gastric bypass may benefit from endoscopic surgery. Issues with stoma or pouch dilatation may be possible to address with endoscopic plication (gathering) of the tissues to reduce the size of either the pouch, the stoma (opening) or both.
Endoscopic revisional surgery is performed under general anesthetic. The endoscope and the plicating device is introduced through the mouth and esophagus to the small stomach area and the plication or gathering is then done around the area of the previous gastric bypass. Following the procedure, patients need to be on a liquid diet for several days while the surgery heals. The effect of the endoscopic surgery may vary depending on the individual anatomy and previous surgery.
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