Primary Obesity Surgery, Endolumenal (POSE)
A new, less invasive surgical option is now available as a tool to help patients lose weight. If you have tried diet after diet without ever achieving the weight loss you want, and need, for your appearance and general health, you may be a candidate for the POSE procedure (Primary Obesity Surgery, Endolumenal).
Surgeons are using new instruments to suture folds into the stomach, reducing its capacity. This helps you feel accelerated fullness with satiation of hunger, which can help you eat less and feel full. The surgeon performs the procedure entirely through the mouth without making any external incisions into the body.
Due to the lack of external incisions, the POSE procedure is expected to provide important advantages, including less risk than traditional open or laparoscopic surgery, minimal postoperative pain, fast recovery time and no scarring. Patients have undergone the procedure on a Friday and are back at work by Monday with no bandages or pain and total confidentiality (no one would even have to know that you have had the procedure).
Getting your weight down is vital to improve your health and potentially helps reduce the health problems associated with being overweight, such as Type II diabetes, heart disease, joint disease and respiratory conditions. If you have tried to lose weight without success, ask your surgeon if the POSE procedure might be right for you.
FAQ’s
What is the POSE PROCEDURE?
New surgical tools now allow surgeons to reduce the capacity of the stomach through the patient’s mouth without making abdominal incisions into the body. Your doctor may refer to this as the “POSE” procedure, which stands for Primary Obesity Surgery, Endolumenal.
Have you worked hard to lose weight, but never found a diet that works?
People often try diet after diet without ever achieving the weight loss they want – and need – for their appearance and general health.
For decades, surgeons have performed many different kinds of abdominal surgeries to help people lose weight. These operations reduce the capacity of the stomach or adjust the anatomy in the GI tract to help patients feel full faster and/or absorb fewer calories. While these procedures can be extremely effective at helping patients lose weight, doctors generally only offer them to the heaviest patients because of the risks and long recovery time associated with many of them.
We now offer a completely incision-free outpatient procedure that reduces the capacity of the stomach to help you feel full faster – without major surgery and weeks of recovery time.
Patients have undergone the procedure on a Friday and are back at work by Monday with no bandages or pain. Many patients keep the POSE procedure a secret from their friends or co-workers. Because there are no visible scars or bandages, no one needs to know that you have had the procedure, and you can be back to normal activities within a few days.
How do I find out if I’m eligible for this new incisionless, POSE procedure?
After an initial screening, you will undergo a series of evaluations including nutritional and dietary counselling. In addition, a full medical examination is necessary to determine if you are a candidate.
What does the POSE procedure entail?
The POSE procedure is performed using a small flexible endoscope and the Incisionless Operating Platform (IOP). The scope and the IOP instruments are inserted through the mouth into the stomach the same way as a standard endoscope. Tissue anchors are used to create multiple tissue folds in the stomach to reduce its capacity. These folds in your stomach reduce the amount of food it can hold so you feel fuller faster during meals and eat less. To realise the full benefits of the procedure, you must commit to following the diet, exercise and nutritional counselling programmes that your doctor prescribes.
What instruments are used?
The POSE procedure is performed with an Incisionless Operating Platform (IOP) and a small flexible endoscope for visualisation. The IOP consists of a long narrow access platform and specialised surgical tools (that grab tissue, hold it in place and insert anchors and sutures), all of which have received CE mark.
Where will the procedure be performed?
The procedure may be performed in a Hospital Operating Theatre, an Outpatient Surgery Centre or an Endoscopy Suite. Your doctor will choose the location that is best for you and the surgical team.
How long will I need to stay in the hospital?
The length of your stay will be determined by your surgeon. Most patients are discharged the same day of the operation, but your surgeon may want you to stay overnight for observation.
What are the benefits of an incisionless procedure?
The entire procedure is performed through the mouth and inside the stomach – not through cuts into the abdomen. By eliminating skin incisions, this new procedure may provide important advantages to patients, including a reduced risk of infection and associated complications, minimised pain, shorter hospital stays, no visible external scars, plus faster recovery times. Additionally, no one needs to know that you have had a procedure as you can return to normal activities within a few days.
What type of side effects can I expect?
Some patients have complained of a temporary sore throat and nausea following the procedure. These symptoms usually disappear within a few days after the procedure.
Is it safe?
All procedures have some risk involved, although to date no major complications have been reported. The procedure is new and long-term data is not yet available.
What is the success rate?
It is too soon to estimate the likely procedure success rate. However, to date, the procedure has been well tolerated and patients typically begin to see weight loss in the first 4 weeks and an earlier feeling of fullness right away. Your success will depend to a large degree on your commitment to follow the diet, exercise and nutritional counselling programmes your doctor prescribes.
What is the recovery process?
Most patients will return to normal activity within a few days of their procedure. Your doctor will give you specific instructions. In addition, you will be required to follow a post-procedure diet and exercise plan, similar to the regimen prescribed following weight loss surgeries. To help you on your journey, follow-up appointments with your doctor will be required.
What will the procedure cost?
The cost for the procedure will vary depending upon where the procedure is performed, how long you stay in the facility and other factors. Your doctor or the programme coordinator will be able to give you an estimate of the total cost.
Is incisionless surgery just for weight loss surgery?
This procedure is one of the first of many potential applications for Incisionless Surgery. Incisionless Surgery is considered the next wave in minimally invasive procedures. It is anticipated that this platform will provide flexibility to surgeons sufficient to address a wide variety of procedural needs.