What is it?
The Endobarrier is a novel weight-loss device positioned beyond the stomach, by a camera (gastroscope), placed through the mouth and involving no cuts. It usually results in significant control of type 2 diabetes or in weight loss.
What does the surgery involve?
The device is a thin, flexible tube about 2 feet (60cm) long made from a soft plastic-like material. It is usually placed using sedation (in some patients general anaesthetic is recommended) and takes about 20 minutes. It is suitable for patients with a body mass index greater than 27kg/m2. The device is left in place for 6 to 12 months and then removed in the same manner as placement. It works by preventing food from contacting the first part of the bowel (the food slides down it like a flume!) and this stops hormonal messages relating to appetite and nutrition. In some ways it acts like the gastric bypass but without the surgery.
How well will I do?
The procedure results in about 5-15% weight loss. It has particularly good effects for diabetes associated with weight gain. Oddly, there is some evidence that the good effects on diabetes continue, for a while, even after removal of the device.
What is my recovery like?
Most patients will go home on the day of the procedure or the day after. The complication rate is low and your surgeon will go over the risks with you. Some patients develop discomfort associated with the device. A small portion of devices are removed early because of this. As with most weight-loss procedures there is evidence that the length of benefit from the procedure is increased if patients participate in lifestyle, eating behaviour and activity changes.
Packages and pricing
Endobarrier packages are offered in partnership with BMI Healthcare. The BMI Healthcare website should be consulted for any price or package changes and the following is a description at the time of writing only. The package price includes consultation with the dietitian and surgeon, pre-assessment and anaesthetic assessment, the procedure and associated hospital stay, the management of any problems in the first 30 days after the procedure, consultations with the dietitian and surgeon after the procedure and admission for removal of the device at the appropriate timescale.
- Initial BMI Healthcare Bariatric Enquiry Centre appointment with dietitian £50
- Endobarrier package £TBC