BMI

Many bariatric surgeons are excited about the procedure Gastric Plication (LGP) as a bariatric procedure. It promises to be a simple method (remember, “Less Is More!”) that gives weight loss results as good as sleeve gastrectomy without even the risks of that procedure (staple line leaks (read part one and part two here) or bleeding).

What is done is that the greater curvature of the stomach is freed from the tissues attached to it (known as the gastrocolic omentum) using a vessel sealing device like the Harmonic Scalpel or the Ligasure. This is the first step of the sleeve gastrectomy procedure, as well.

However, unlike the sleeve, here we do not use the stapler to remove 80% of the stomach. We merely imbricate/plicate the stomach using running stitches from above downwards, layer by layer, till most of the stomach is pushed inwards, creating a narrowing of the passage, and a tunnel along the lesser curvature, just like the sleeve.

Lap Gastric Plication

In the same vein, if someone wants to reverse the procedure, the stitches may be removed by laparoscopy (making this a potentially reversible procedure like the Lap Band), though this would neither be a good thing nor a great experience!

Some patients have significant reflux symptoms after LGP, as after the sleeve, as we have discussed before.

It is possible that the stitches may give way later and hamper the weight loss, but preliminary results, as presented in the recent International Conference of Obesity in Stockholm, show good results akin to the sleeve.

More info later!