SHORT-TERM WEIGHT LOSS OF THE ENDOSCOPIC SLEEVE GASTROPLASTY FOR PRIMARY OBESITY

Aims Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG)with the Apollo Overstitch System (AOS) has been positioned as one of the reference treatments among endoscopic bariatric therapies. Our aim was to analyse its efficacy in our first 29 patients who reached at least 6 months of a multidisciplinary follow up schedule

Methods: Outcomes Evaluation of total body weight loss percentage (TBWL%) and final weight loss and BMI in 29 obese patients submitted to ESG performed by the same endoscopist (AJPG) who reached at least 6 months of follow up.

All patients signed the informed consent and were performed under antibiotic prophylaxis, CO2 insufflation and general anesthesia in an inpatient basis. All procedures were done using the Apollo overstitch system attached to a double channel Olympus gastroscope after endoscopically ruling out contraindications.

Results A total number of 29 patients (24F) completed the 6 month schedule, with 11 nutritional counseling visits . Mean age 39.7 years old; initial mean BMI 35.3 kg/m2. 93.5% were discharged within the first 24 hours of admission.

TBWL% at 1, 3, 6 m = 9.3%, 16.1% and 20.3%, respectively

Final BMI = 28.0 kg/m2

Conclusions

1. ESG showed a remarkable short-term efficacy in the first 29 cases of our series who completed the follow up, with a 6-months mean BMI decrease of 7.3 kg/m2 and a TBWL% of 20.3%

2. While awaiting for longer follow up results, ESG seems a good alternative therapy for the treatment of obesity, even at the begin of the learning curve

3. Randomized controlled trials might help to confirm these promising results