The Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty or ESG is a new procedure that reduces the functional volume of the stomach. Little doubt exists that gastric restriction is a critical mechanism in achieving substantial weight loss; purely restrictive bariatric procedures, such as gastric banding and sleeve gastrectomy, have been shown to result in expected weight loss (%EWL) of 65.5% and 76.1%, respectively, at 12 months.
What is Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty
Endoscopy is the visualization of gastrointestinal tract with a flexible endoscope. Recently a device was created that allows the intestinal wall to be sutured. This has many applications, but one of them is to suture the front wall of the stomach to the back wall. This prevents the stomach from widening and lengthening as the patient eats. During an ESG a channel is preserved along the lesser curve of the stomach similar in size to what is left intact after a laparoscopic (operative) sleeve gastrectomy or LSG. In essence the ESG is an even less invasive version of the minimally-invasive LSG.