Background: Endoscopic sutured gastroplasty (ESG) has evolved over time. With the advent of full-thickness endoscopic suturing, an efficient technique for ESG was developed and refined.
Methods: This prospective first-in-man trial started in April 2012 and represents the first use of full-thickness endoscopic suturing for primary obesity therapy. The trial focused on procedure development, reproducibility, safety, and short-term efficacy. The trial was performed at centers in five countries, in three phases. Phase I was evaluation of safety and technical feasibility of various procedure techniques; stitch patterns and sequences were assessed for efficiency, safety, and feasibility. Phase II entailed continued procedure refinement to establish a standardized technique. Phase III entailed evaluation of technical feasibility and weight loss outcomes in 77 patients; the procedure was performed using the standardized technique, and there was no procedure development. Data were prospectively collected into a registry.
Results: In Phase I, the procedure was created and modified to improve time efficiency. Safety and technical feasibility were established, and short-term weight loss was demonstrated. In Phase II, a number of stitch patterns were attempted, and the stitch pattern was modified and finalized. 22 patients were included, and 1-year total weight loss was 17.3 ± 2.6%. In Phase III, conformity with the final technique was high. 77 patients were included, with a mean BMI of 36.1 ± 0.6 kg/m2. Mean weight loss was 16.0 ± 0.8% at 6 months and 17.4 ± 1.2% at 12 months (n = 44). Postprocedural nausea, vomiting, and epigastric pain were frequently reported; there were no reported significant adverse events post-procedure or during the follow-up period.
Conclusions: Following a methodical procedure development phase, ESG demonstrated safety and short-term efficacy in this trial. The procedure also achieved meaningful weight loss during the follow-up period.
Keywords: Bariatric endoscopy; Bariatric surgery; Endoscopic bariatric; Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty; Endoscopic sutured gastroplasty; Obesity; Weight loss surgery.