Clinical experience of transoral suturing for an endoluminal vertical gastroplasty: 1-year follow-up in 64 patients

Background Bariatric surgery for severe obesity has demonstrated significant health benefits, but it is not without complications. Transoral approaches to weight loss offer a minimally invasive option. Objective To evaluate the safety and feasibility of a transoral suturing procedure for weight loss. Design Single-center, uncontrolled study with a 1-year follow-up. Setting Hospital de Clinicas, Caracas, Venezuela. Patients Sixty-four patients (mean age [SD] 31.5 ± 10.1 years, range 16-62 years; mean (SD) preoperative body mass index [BMI] 39.9 ± 5.1 kg/m 2 , range 28.0-60.2 kg/m 2 ) were enrolled between 2003 and 2005. Intervention Endoluminal vertical gastroplasty by using a continuous suture pattern to treat obesity. Main Outcome Measurements Short-term complication monitoring and patient weight before the procedure and at 1, 3, and 12 months after the procedure. Results The outpatient procedures were performed in approximately 45 minutes. Patients had a significant reduction in BMI at 12 months (mean [SD] BMI 39.9 ± 5.1 kg/m 2 vs 30.6 ± 4.7 kg/m 2 ; P 2 , n=33), group II (baseline BMI 35-40 kg/m 2 , n=19), and group III (baseline BMI 2 , n=12) demonstrated a %EWL (SD) of 48.9 ± 10.7, 56.5 ± 13.9, and 85.1 ± 24.0, respectively, at 12 months after the procedure ( P = .037 when comparing group I vs II; P Limitations This study represents a single center's clinical experience, with no sham control. Conclusions Endoluminal vertical gastroplasty by using a continuous suture pattern is associated with significant weight loss. Additional studies are needed to demonstrate the procedure's long-term safety and efficacy.