New Origami-inspired weight loss surgery folds stomach into smaller size

Washington, Mar 11 (ANI): Scientists are now offering gastric plication, a novel surgery that folds the stomach into a smaller and more compact size, to patients seeking weight-loss treatment that does not require an implanted device or permanent change to their anatomy.

Santiago Horgan and his team have a new clinical trial option at UC San Diego Health System.

"This minimally invasive surgery is a new choice for patients who are more than 30 pounds overweight," Horgan said.

"By folding the stomach, we can reduce the volume by 70 percent. Patients can expect to lose up to 2 pounds per week following the procedure," he said.

Horgan compares gastric plication, a way to fold the stomach into a new functional form, to the art of origami. Gastric plication is potentially reversible and is performed laparoscopically.

During a one-hour procedure, one to five small incisions are made in the abdomen to reach the stomach to place the folds.

Depending on the size of the patient's stomach, one or two folds are created with non-absorbable sutures.

"After surgery, with a smaller stomach size, a patient feels fuller faster and is likely to have an actual decrease in appetite.

"If, for some reason, we need to return the stomach to its original size, we can do so. Also, since the patient's anatomy is not rerouted, the patient does not have severe food restrictions," Horgan said.

Horgan said that, in addition to weight loss, many surgery patients see an associated benefit in reducing their blood pressure, diabetes and depression medications.

These long-term results are a product of a combination of surgery, healthy eating and exercise.

Gastric plication offers a short hospitalisation of one to two days with a return to normal activities in one week. Candidates must have a BMI of at least 27. (ANI)