Reduce and reselect! Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty can reduce 15-20% of total body weight

Obesity has become an important factor affecting the health of Taiwanese people. Obesity not only affects the appearance, but also internal organs, leading to liver, gallbladder and gastrointestinal diseases. Common diseases include fatty liver causing chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis, gallbladder stones, pancreatic inflammation, gastroesophageal reflux disease causing esophagitis and Barrett's esophagus, chronic gastritis and peptic ulcers, changes in small intestinal microflora causing diarrhea, and the occurrence of large intestinal diverticula and polyps. Among the malignant tumors that have been ranked first among the top ten causes of death in China for 40 consecutive years, digestive tract cancers related to obesity include esophageal adenocarcinoma, gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, liver cancer and pancreatic cancer. We cannot ignore the related sequelae caused by obesity and should control and prevent the occurrence of the disease as early as possible.

Among the malignant tumors that have topped the list of the top ten causes of death in China for 40 consecutive years, digestive tract cancers related to obesity include esophageal adenocarcinoma, gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, liver cancer and pancreatic cancer.

It is recommended to control obesity in a gradual and natural way. That is to try to control weight by changing your lifestyle, diet and exercise habits. However, modern people are busy with work and have many social engagements, so it is very difficult to control their diet and exercise habits with perseverance. If obesity cannot be controlled by adjusting your work and rest schedule, you can consider treatment with weight-loss drugs.

Body mass index BMI 27-32, can lose weight through gastroscopy

Generally speaking, patients with a body mass index (BMI) between 27 and 32 (normal value is 18.5-24) can lose weight through endoscopic bariatric surgery, including botulinum toxin injection, intragastric balloon placement, and sleeve gastroplasty, in addition to using weight loss drugs. In terms of research results and durability, endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty has the best effect. The surgical method is simply to use a peroral gastroscope equipped with an "endoscopic suturing system" to enter the stomach through the mouth under general anesthesia, fold the stomach like a purse and suture it up. Without destroying the gastric tissue glands, it can reduce the volume of the stomach like surgical gastrectomy, reduce food intake and calorie intake.

Left image - Gastroscope is passed into the stomach through the mouth. Right picture - The special gastroscopic suturing system is used to sew the stomach into sleeves to reduce its volume. (Photo provided by Far Eastern Hospital)

Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty can reduce total body weight by about 15-20%

Research data show that "endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty" can reduce total body weight by about 15-20% and improve metabolic syndrome phenomena such as hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia. It is as effective as surgical local gastrectomy for weight loss and can achieve the goal of minimally invasive weight loss with no wounds on the body surface, short hospital stays, and quick recovery. However, for those who have undergone gastric surgery, severe gastroesophageal reflux or gastric hernia, active peptic ulcer, esophageal varices, upper gastrointestinal structural abnormalities, gastric tumors, Crohn's disease, cirrhosis, abnormal coagulation function, alcohol or drug abuse, mental illness, etc., it is not recommended to use endoscopic gastric reduction surgery as the first choice treatment for obesity control.

After surgery, the volume of the stomach is reduced by 50-70%, thereby reducing food intake and calorie intake. (Photo provided by Far Eastern Hospital)

Director Zhong Chengxuan of the Ultrasound and Endoscopy Center of Asia Eastern Hospital said that there was a 39-year-old female patient who was 154 cm tall, weighed 77.4 kg, and had a body mass index (BMI) of 28.8. After changing her lifestyle and undergoing intragastric botulinum toxin injection, her weight had not decreased significantly. However, she also had hyperglycemia, severe fatty liver, and chronic hepatitis, so she was arranged to undergo endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty for weight loss. The minimally invasive surgery took about 80 minutes. She was able to eat orally on the second day after the surgery without any discomfort and was discharged smoothly on the third day. During the outpatient follow-up, she was treated with weight-loss medication and her appetite decreased significantly. In less than half a year, her BMI dropped to 24.7. At the same time, her blood sugar and hepatitis indexes returned to normal, her mental and physical strength improved, and her work concentration and efficiency also improved. Not only that, she regained confidence in her figure and appearance, as she originally did not dare to wear tight clothes.

Director Zhong Chengxuan of the Ultrasound and Endoscopy Center said that research data showed that "endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty" can reduce total body weight by about 15-20% and improve metabolic syndrome phenomena such as hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia. The effect of surgical local gastrectomy for weight loss is equivalent, and it can achieve the goal of minimally invasive weight loss with no wounds on the body surface, short hospitalization days and fast recovery. (Photo provided by Far Eastern Hospital)

Director Zhong Chengxuan reminds that the related chronic diseases caused by obesity cannot be ignored. We should control our weight as early as possible to prevent the occurrence of comorbidities. It is recommended to adjust our lifestyle, diet and exercise, or use weight-loss drugs under the guidance of a doctor. If the goal of weight loss cannot be achieved, it is recommended to discuss interventional treatment methods with a surgeon or endoscopist. Minimally invasive peroral endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty weight loss surgery at one's own expense is also one of the best options that the public can consider.