Endoscopic Sleeve GastroplastyOn May 22nd, 2014, the Mayo Clinic doctors introduced a bariatric procedure unlike any other. The Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty (ESG) can be performed on an outpatient basis and typically takes approximately two hours to complete. Like other weight loss procedures, the endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty is designed for overweight patients who want to lose about 40 pounds.

Mayo Clinic doctors Dr. Barhma Abu Dayyeh and Dr. Christopher Gostout started the clinical trial in 2012 with just 10 patients. One patient was Cherish Grabau, who lost 40 pounds fairly quickly after the procedure.

With a BMI of 30-35, Grabau met the qualifications for this operation. Candidates for this procedure are not morbidly obese or won’t qualify for gastric bypass surgery. This new procedure targets individuals who are overweight and looking to change their lifestyle and prevent comorbidities from occurring due to excess weight on the body.

About Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty

The endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty procedure constricts the stomach without any surgery. A mechanical suturing device is placed at the end of an endoscope that is small enough to fit through the esophagus itself. This flexible medical instrument threads itself through the body to the stomach, where sutures reshape it to form a sleeve.

This will constrict the stomach, causing the recipients of this procedure to feel full sooner and for a longer period of time. For this minimally invasive procedure, Patients must undergo a screening process and nutrition counseling for weeks before going under sedation with general anesthesia.

It’s important to understand that this procedure is not a miracle cure; patients still must do a lot of work and take responsibility for their health. It takes willpower to stand up and say that one is on the wrong path and wants to stop the destruction before it damages too much of their body.

Comparison to Other Bariatric Procedures

According to the doctors, this surgery differs from gastric sleeve and gastric bypass surgery because it can be reversed, repeated, and adjusted according to each patient’s needs. The procedure is much easier to perform, allowing them to treat many more patients. The doctors say the procedure gives them a signal that they can go back in and tighten things up or remodify the sleeve itself.

According to the report, the new procedure will cost about $10,000 or about ¼ of traditional gastric bypass surgery costs. Dr. Gostout and Dr. Dayyeh have trained doctors in places such as Texas, California, Miami, Boston, and St. Louis on performing this preventative operation.

Note: The Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty is often confused with the Gastric Mini Sleeve because of similar names. The ESG, however, is entirely endoscopic. Mini-sleeve surgery has two approaches to accomplishing the desired surgical outcome. The doctor either uses 3 to 5 incisions like the traditional sleeve or utilizes 1 to 5 incisions laparoscopically while instruments are endoscopically inserted to remove the separated stomach.

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