Endoscopic Sleeve for Weight Loss [Video]

More than 40% of the US population is obese. “We know that there is an independent risk for increased mortality, and then there are a lot of diseases that are obesity related such as high blood pressure, atrial fabulation, obstructive sleep apnea, diabetes, and arthritis,” said Dr. Maja Delibasic.

Gastroenterologist Dr. Augustine Salami has a new FDA approved procedure that can help patients lose weight. It’s called an endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty. “This is a minimally invasive procedure. It’s a same day procedure. It takes about an hour. There are no long-term complications reported and it’s completely reversible.”

The procedure is done through the mouth. Dr. Salami puts sutures in to reduce stomach volume to about 40% of what it was prior to surgery. “After the procedure, it means that your stomach volume is now smaller. You cannot eat the same volume that you were eating before. When you eat, you’re going to get full quicker.”

Most patients can return to work in about 2 to 3 days. It’s a major improvement over the traditional unreversible method that kept patients in the hospital longer, and it could take nearly 2 weeks for them to return to work. There’s also long-term data showing this new procedure can help patients keep the weight off for good.

“We have scientific evidence that your diabetes cause, your A1C, your blood pressure, cholesterol, acid reflux symptoms improve after this procedure,” said Dr. Salami. A minimally invasive procedure with a variety of long-term health benefits.

View More Health Matters video segments at youtube.com/leehealth

Lee Health in Fort Myers, FL is the largest network of health care facilities in Southwest Florida and is highly respected for its expertise, innovation and quality of care. For more than 100 years, we’ve been providing our community with personalized preventative health services and primary care to highly specialized care services and robotic assisted surgeries.

Visit LeeHealth.org