Endoscopic gastric plication for the treatment of weight regain after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (with video)

Indications and Outcomes of Endoscopic Gastric Pouch Plications After Bariatric Surgery: An Analysis of the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP) Database

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic gastric pouch plications (EGPP) have emerged as a novel approach for managing weight-related issues and postoperative complications following bariatric surgery. However, safety for these revisions remains limited. This study aims to evaluate the 30-day rate of serious complications and mortality associated with EGPP using the MBSAQIP database.  METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the MBSAQIP database from 2020 to 2022 was conducted, focusing on patients undergoing EGPP. The primary outcomes were 30-day serious complications and mortality.

RESULTS

The study included 1474 patients. Recurrent weight gain was the most common indication for EGPP (71.9%), followed by suboptimal initial weight loss (15.1%), dumping syndrome (5.5%), reflux (4.1%), gastrointestinal tract fistula (1.0%), and others (0.9%). The mean operative time was 41.2 ± 35.2 min, with a mean hospital stay of 0.4 ± 0.7 days. Postoperative complications included 30-day readmissions (3.1%), serious complications (3.3%), 30-day interventions (2.5%), bleeding (0.8%), and reoperations (0.4%). The mortality rate was 0%. Multivariable analysis identified GERD as an independent predictor of serious complications (OR 1.79, 95% CI 0.98 to 3.2, p = 0.05) when adjusting for various factors.

CONCLUSIONS

EGPP is an uncommon procedure with only 1474 cases reported, primarily indicated for weight recurrence. It appears to be a relatively safe alternative to surgical revision. However, further research is needed to assess its efficacy and compare it to corresponding surgical revisions.

Addressing recurrent weight gain after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: efficacy of a dual surgical approach-short-term results of a single-center cohort study

BACKGROUND

There is no gold standard for recurrent weight gain following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). Combining jejuno-jejunostomy distalization type 1 (JJD1) and sleeve resection of the gastrojejunostomy and gastric pouch (GJ-P) may be a potential approach for these patients.

OBJECTIVES

To describe 1-year perioperative and nutritional outcomes of patients who underwent JJD1 with sleeve resection of the GJ-P.

SETTING

High-volume academic bariatric center of excellence.

METHODS

Patients with recurrent weight gain after RYGB who underwent JJD1 with sleeve resection of the GJ-P from 2020 to 2022 were included and studied for 1 year postoperatively. During the procedure, we aimed for a total alimentary limb length (TALL) of 350-500 cm, a new common channel (CC) of 200-350 cm, and a gastrojejunostomy <2 cm in diameter.

RESULTS

A total of 61 patients underwent this combined revisional procedure. The median preoperative body mass index (BMI) was 42.59 kg/m2. The median lengths of the biliopancreatic limb (BPL) before and after distalizatiovn were 50 cm (interquartile range [IQR]: 42.5-75) and 175 cm (IQR: 150-200), respectively. After revision, the median new CC was 270 cm (IQR: 250-300) and the median TALL was 400 cm (interquartile range [IQR]: 362.5-450). The median total small bowel length (TSBL) was 580 cm (IQR 550-640 cm), and the median BPL/TSBL ratio was .32 (IQR .29-.34). At 1, 6, and 12 months, the median BMI of the cohort was reduced to 39.14, 35.55, and 32.9 kg/m2, respectively. At 1 year, the total weight loss (%TWL) was 22.18%. Only 3 (n = 3) patients developed major complications at 1 year. After distalization, the resolution of all obesity-related co-morbidities improved, including type 2 diabetes (3.2%), sleep apnea (13.1%), hypertension (HTN) (11.4%), and hyperlipidemia (HLD) (1.6%).

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of JJD1 and sleeve resection of the GJ-P for RYGB revision was safe and effective, with substantial improvement in weight loss at 1 year.

Endobariatric systems: Strategic integration of endoscopic therapies in the management of obesity

The escalating obesity pandemic and its comorbidities necessitate adaptable and versatile treatment strategies. Endobariatric and metabolic therapies (EBMTs) can be strategically employed in a multipronged approach to obesity management, analogous to the way chess systems are employed to seize opportunities and thwart threats. In this review, we explore the spectrum of established and developing EBMTs, examining their efficacy in weight loss and metabolic improvement and their importance for a tailored, patient-centric approach. The complexity of obesity management mirrors the intricate nature of a chess game, with an array of tactics and strategies available to address the opponent's moves. Similarly, the bariatric endoscopist employs a range of EBMTs to alter the gastrointestinal tract landscape, targeting critical anatomical regions to modify physiological reactions to food consumption and nutrient assimilation. Gastric-focused EBMTs aim to reduce stomach capacity and induce satiety. Intestinal-focused EBMTs target hormonal regulation and nutrient absorption to improve metabolic profiles. EBMTs offer unique advantages of reversibility, adjustability and minimal invasiveness, allowing them to be used as primary treatments, adjuncts to pharmacotherapy or tools to address post-bariatric surgery weight recidivism. However, sub-optimal adoption of EBMTs due to lack of awareness, perceived costs and limited training opportunities hinders their integration into standard obesity management practices. By strategically integrating EBMTs into the broader landscape of obesity care, leveraging their unique advantages to enhance outcomes, clinicians can offer a more dynamic and personalized treatment paradigm. This approach, akin to employing chess systems to adapt to evolving challenges, allows for a comprehensive, patient-centric management of obesity as a chronic, complex and relapsing disease.

Endoscopic Management of Weight Regain After Bariatric Surgery

Weight regain, also known as recurrent weight gain, is common following bariatric surgeries. While anti-obesity medications and surgical revisions offer effective treatment options, they are not without their challenges and limitations. Over the last few decades, there have been significant advancements in endoscopic interventions to address weight regain following bariatric surgery. These procedures have demonstrated feasibility, safety, efficacy, and durability, offering minimally invasive treatment options for this patient population.

Multidisciplinary combined treatment based on bariatric surgery for metabolic syndrome: a review article

As a chronic, multifactorial disease, obesity is associated with a global social and economic burden. This condition significantly affects normal daily life and healthy social interactions, and shortens the life expectancy of patients. Compared with traditional weight-loss methods, the emergence of bariatric surgery has effectively improved the management of obesity. Furthermore, bariatric surgery can also inhibit the progression of multiple metabolic diseases. Despite its potential advantages, bariatric surgery cannot completely eliminate the possibility of weight regain and inadequate weight loss following the procedure. For super-obese patients, bariatric surgery still remains a surgical risk. In addition, the psychological problems and poor eating habits of obese patients also affect the weight loss effect and daily life. Thus, various adjuvant therapies involving multiple disciplines have attracted people's attention. Recently, it has been recognized that the combination of multiple interventions based on bariatric surgery is more advantageous than a single intervention in alleviating the complex and diverse metabolic diseases associated with obesity. The combined therapy considerably enhances the long-term efficacy of bariatric surgery and plays a positive role in the mental health and social lives of patients. In this article, the authors review this multidisciplinary combination therapy to enhance the current understanding of the treatment of obesity.

Combining transoral outlet reduction with pharmacotherapy yields similar 1-year efficacy with improved safety compared with surgical revision for weight regain after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (with videos)

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Transoral outlet reduction (TORe) and antiobesity medication (AOM) are effective treatments for weight regain after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). This study aims to assess the efficacy of combination therapy (TORe + AOM) for treating weight regain and to compare the safety and efficacy of combination therapy with AOM alone, TORe alone, and surgical revision of RYGB.

METHODS

This was a retrospective study of RYGB patients with weight regain who underwent combination therapy, defined as initiation of at least 1 AOM within 6 months before or after TORe. Outcomes were weight loss after combination therapy and comparison of combination therapy with AOM alone, TORe alone, and surgical revision.

RESULTS

One hundred forty-five RYGB patients underwent combination therapy. Most commonly prescribed AOMs were topiramate, phentermine/topiramate, phentermine, and liraglutide. At 12 months, patients experienced 15.2% ± 7.4% total weight loss (TWL). Ninety percent of patients achieved ≥5% TWL at 12 months. Combination therapy was associated with greater weight loss than AOM alone (15.2% ± 7.4% vs 6.8% ± 8.2% TWL, P < .0001) or TORe alone (15.2% ± 7.4% vs 8.7% ± 8.3% TWL, P < .0001), with similar serious adverse event rates (2.1% vs 4.7% vs .6% for combination therapy vs AOM alone vs TORe alone, P > .05). Combination therapy yielded similar weight loss to surgical revision (15.2% ± 7.4% vs 16.4% ± 13.1% TWL, P = .34), with a lower serious adverse event rate (2.1% vs 14.3%, P = .0004).

CONCLUSIONS

Combination of TORe with AOM is superior to either therapy alone, providing similar efficacy to surgical revision with a better safety profile for the treatment of weight regain after RYGB.

Efficacy and safety of revisional treatments for weight regain or insufficient weight loss after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Weight regain or inadequate weight loss following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass poses a significant clinical challenge. Our objective was to evaluate various revisional techniques for addressing weight regain and insufficient weight loss after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass through a systematic review and meta-analysis. We performed a literature search (in PubMed and Embase) on revisional interventions in collaboration with a medical information specialist. Measured outcomes included body mass index at intervention, total weight loss during follow-up, and complications. Random effects models were used to determine pooled effect size and corresponding 95% confidence intervals. Thirty-nine studies were included: four studies reported on argon plasma coagulation, four studies on transoral outlet reduction, nine studies on transoral outlet reduction + argon plasma coagulation, four studies on pouch/gastrojejunal anastomosis revision, five on laparoscopic gastric banding, two studies on laparoscopic gastric banding + pouch resizing, 10 on distalization-RYGB, and one on duodenal switch. All techniques resulted in short-term clinically relevant weight loss. Endoscopic procedures had a short follow-up and resulted in modest and temporary weight loss. Surgical revision techniques were successful for weight loss in longer term follow-up, at the expense of high complication rates.

Factors Associated with Weight Loss After Endoscopic Transoral Outlet Reduction (TORe)

INTRODUCTION

Endoscopic transoral outlet reduction (TORe) has emerged as a safe and effective treatment option for weight regain after Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB). Factors that predict successful weight loss after TORe are incompletely understood. The aims of this study were to evaluate procedural factors and patient factors that may affect percent total body weight loss (%TBWL) after TORe.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was performed on patients after TORe. The primary outcomes were %TBWL at 6 and 12 months based on four procedural factors: purse-string (PS) vs. non-purse-string (NPS) suture pattern, gastric pouch sutures (N), change in the diameter of the gastrojejunal anastomosis, and change in the length of the gastric pouch. Secondary outcomes included patient factors that affected weight loss.

RESULTS

Fifty-one patients underwent TORe. Weight loss for completers was 11.3 ± 7.6% and 12.2 ± 9.2% at 6 and 12 months. There was a correlation between %TBWL and change in pouch length at 6 and 12 months and number of sutures in the pouch at 6 months. The difference in %TBWL between PS and NPS groups at 6 months (PS, n=21, 12.3 ± 8.5% and NPS, n=8, 8.7 ± 3.7%) and 12 months (PS, n=21, 13.5 ± 9.2% and NPS, n=5, 7.0 ± 7.9%) did not reach statistical significance. For secondary outcomes, depression was associated with %TBWL.

CONCLUSION

Change in pouch length and number of sutures in the pouch correlated positively while depression correlated negatively with weight loss after TORe. Further studies are needed to understand these effects.

Endoscopic Management of Weight Recurrence Following Bariatric Surgery

Metabolic and bariatric surgery is the most effective therapy for weight loss and improving obesity-related comorbidities, comprising the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), gastric banding, sleeve gastrectomy (SG), and biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch. While the effectiveness of weight loss surgery is well-rooted in existing literature, weight recurrence (WR) following bariatric surgery is a concern. Endoscopic bariatric therapy presents an anatomy-preserving and minimally invasive option for managing WR in select cases. In this review article, we will highlight the endoscopic management techniques for WR for the most commonly performed bariatric surgeries in the United States -RYGB and SG. For each endoscopic technique, we will review weight loss outcomes in the short and mid-terms and discuss safety and known adverse events. While there are multiple endoscopic options to help address anatomical issues, patients should be managed in a multidisciplinary approach to address anatomical, nutritional, psychological, and social factors contributing to WR.