Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty: a modified technique with greater curvature compression sutures

Abstract

Background Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) is rapidly becoming established as a safe and effective means of achieving substantial weight loss via the transoral route. New ESG suture patterns are emerging. Our aim was to investigate whether superior weight loss outcomes can be achieved by using a unique combination of longitudinal compression sutures and “U”-shaped sutures.

Methods This is a retrospective review of prospectively collected data of all patients undergoing ESG by a single operator in a single UK center.

Results Between January 2016 and December 2017, 32 patients (23 female) underwent ESG; n = 9 cases were completed utilizing a commonly used triangular suture pattern (“no longitudinal compression”) and n = 23 cases were completed using our unique “longitudinal compression” suture pattern. In the no compression and compression groups, the mean ages were 45 ± 12 years and 43 ± 10 years, the median baseline weights were 113.6 kg (range 82.0 – 156.4) and 107 kg (range 74.0 – 136.0), and the median baseline body mass indexes (BMIs) were 35.9 kg/m² (range 30.9 – 43.8) and 36.5 kg/m² (range 29.8 – 42.9), respectively. After 6 months, body weight had decreased by 21.1 kg (range, 12.2 – 34.0) in the compression group (n = 7) versus 10.8 kg (range, 7.0 – 25.8) in the no compression group (n = 5) (P = 0.042). Correspondingly, BMI decreased by 7.8 kg/m² (range, 4.9 – 11.2) and 4.1 kg/m² (range, 2.6 – 7.2) in each group, respectively (P = 0.019). Total body weight loss (%TBWL) was greater in the compression group at 19.5 % (range, 12.9 – 30.4 %) compared to 13.2 % (range, 6.2 – 17.1 %) in the non-compression group (P = 0.042). No significant adverse events were reported in this series.

Conclusion The technique of ESG is evolving and outcomes from endoscopic bariatric therapies continue to improve. We provide preliminary evidence of superior weight loss achieved through a modified gastroplasty suture pattern.

Background

Obesity and obesity-related diseases are preventable conditions that represent a significant socioeconomic burden. In 2017, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that 13 % of the world’s adult population were obese (clinically defined as a body mass index (BMI) of ≥ 30 kg/m²) and this incidence has tripled since 1975 [1]. In the UK alone, it has been projected that there will be an additional 11 million obese adults by 2030. Metabolic surgery remains the most effective long-term means of treating these patients by producing often profound and sustained weight loss, as well as weight-loss independent improvements in metabolic health, which consequently ameliorate, or even eliminate, associated comorbidities and reduce mortality [2] [3] [4]. The safety profile of metabolic surgery has improved markedly in recent years with quoted mortality rates of 0.1 – 0.5 % worldwide (0.11 % in the UK) but with serious morbidity recorded in up to 6 % of patients [5] [6]. Unfortunately, only a small proportion of eligible, obese patients (approximately 1 %) currently undergo metabolic operations as there continues to be numerous, multifactorial barriers to surgery [7].

Endoscopic bariatric therapies (EBTs) provide a minimally invasive, and potentially cost-effective, therapeutic option to achieve weight-loss and treat obesity-related diseases by going beyond what can be achieved through medical and lifestyle interventions alone while limiting the potential morbidity and mortality associated with surgery.

First described in 2008, endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) is rapidly becoming established as an effective means of achieving significant weight loss via the transoral route [8]. The generally accepted technique of ESG uses the OverStitch (Apollo Endosurgery Inc., Austin, TX, United States), cap-based flexible endoscopic suturing system which is mounted onto a double-channel endoscope. Starting distally at the level of the incisura angularis and working proximally along the greater curvature towards the fundus, the OverStitch device is used to fashion multiple, interrupted triangular plications. This creates concentric compression along the greater curvature that results in the formation of a short tubular gastric lumen and a 70 % reduction in stomach volume without the need to amputate the greater curvature, as is required in laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. Weight-loss is achieved by significantly restricting the volume of food consumed at each meal coupled with a delay in gastric emptying, which promotes early satiety [9]. This now widely accepted technique, as described by Lopez-Nava et al. [10], has excellent short-term safety and efficacy outcomes reported in numerous prospective observational studies [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25]. After 2 years, patients can expect to achieve a total body weight loss (%TBWL) of 15 – 20 % and two studies have reported associated improvements in several metabolic parameters [9] [13] [26]. Following ESG, patients report only mild-to-moderate, transient, postoperative symptoms and significant adverse events have been reported in selected studies at a rate of < 2 % [9] [11] [13] [14].

Multiple ESG suture patterns already exist that are based broadly around a triangular configuration of plications whereby tension on these plications acts to reduce the volume of the gastric cavity by concentrically compressing the greater curvature with some additional shortening of the sleeve ([Fig. 1]). More recently, several different “Z”-shaped running suture patterns have also been trialled [12] [14]. Graus Morales et al. (2018) demonstrated comparable short-term results using this technique but failed to demonstrate superiority of this suture pattern over the “conventional” triangular pattern in terms of weight-loss outcomes after 18 months.

Fig. 1 Schematic representation of the conventional triangular suture pattern used by Lopez-Nava et al. [10] (no longitudinal compression).

In our center, a modified suture pattern was designed in order to optimize the biomechanical compressive forces acting along the greater curvature. Through the addition of longitudinal compression sutures, tension is more equally distributed across each stitch and produces maximal, uniform compression in both anterior-posterior (A-P) and craniocaudal dimensions. With better, more homogenous compression and greater volume reduction in this manner, we hypothesize that this will translate to earlier satiety and superior weight loss outcomes.

Herein, we report the 6-month outcomes of consecutive patients undergoing ESG by a single operator in our center, comparing the previously described triangular configuration of plications ([Fig. 1]) against our modified suture configuration that incorporates longitudinal compression sutures along the greater curvature ([Fig. 2]).

Fig. 2 Schematic illustration of the modified suture pattern used in our center with (a) initial placement of longitudinal compression sutures, followed by (b) a second parallel layer of ”U”-shaped plications.

Patients and methods

Patients

This is a retrospective review of prospectively collected data of all patients undergoing ESG by the senior author (JK) in a single center (Spire Healthcare, Southampton, UK) between January 2016 and December 2017. JK is established as an experienced interventional endoscopist, proficient in general interventional techniques (endoscopic mucosal resection, submucosal dissection, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), and endoscopic suturing using the OverStitch device (e. g. transoral gastric outlet reduction)) and other EBTs (Endobarrier and Primary Obesity Surgery Endoluminal (POSE)). Before performing ESG, he also attended a 2-day dedicated training course followed by four proctored ESG cases.

Patients with obesity were referred for consideration of ESG and were deemed eligible if they were: ≥ 18 years old, had a BMI ≥ 30 kg/m² and had declined or were not deemed eligible for weight-loss surgery. All patients had already participated in a medical weight-loss management program. A comprehensive surgical, anesthetic, and psychiatric pre-assessment was performed in all cases and informed, written consent was obtained before the procedure. Nutritional assessment and education were delivered by a specialist dietitian. To comply with governance policies, all procedures were performed after necessary approvals were sought and granted by the local Medical Advisory Committee (MAC).

Technique

Between January 2016 and June 2016, consecutive patients underwent ESG with the previously described triangular configuration of plications, henceforth referred to as pattern (1): “no longitudinal compression”. Thereafter, between June 2016 and December 2017, consecutive cases were performed implementing our adapted suture pattern, hereafter referred to as pattern (2): “longitudinal compression”.

Suture pattern (1): No longitudinal compression

This technique has been well described previously [10]. In brief, full thickness bites are taken from the anterior stomach wall, followed by the greater curvature and then the posterior wall before then repeating the pattern in the opposite direction ([Fig. 1]). Each triangular-shaped plication suture generally consists of 3 – 9 full-thickness bites that, when clinched together, produce circumferential compression (and, to some degree, shortening) of the greater curvature. Typically, 6 – 8 plications are used to create the gastric sleeve.

Suture pattern (2): Longitudinal compression

Using this modified technique, the ESG is started by siting two longitudinal compression sutures along the greater curvature of the stomach; the first suture commences in the proximal antrum and terminates in the mid-body along the greater curve, and the second suture commences in the mid-body and progresses into the fundus along the greater curve ([Fig. 2a]). Each linear compression suture consists of approximately 10 bites sited 1.0 – 1.5 cm apart so that when each suture is clinched together, the compressive force is distributed evenly along the long-axis of the stomach. The greater curvature is therefore maximally compressed in a concertina-type pattern. Supplementary to this, a second parallel layer of 3 – 6 interrupted “U”-shaped plications are sited, with each plication being formed of 5 – 9 bites of the Overstitch ([Fig. 2b]). This second layer acts to produce supplementary compression and volume reduction.

One day before admission, patients were instructed to consume only a clear liquid diet. On the morning of the ESG, a standard oral premedication regime of a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) (Lansoprazole 30 mg), analgesia (Paracetamol 1 g), an anti-inflammatory (Etoricoxib 60 mg), and an antiemetic (Aprepitant 80 mg) was prescribed.

After an 8-hour fast, all procedures were carried out in the operating theater under a general anesthetic with the patient in the left-lateral decubitus position with endotracheal intubation. At the time of induction of anesthetic, a prophylactic intravenous dose of Cefuroxime 1.5 g and Metronidazole 500 mg was administered. An initial gastroscopy was performed using standard CO₂ insufflation in order to evaluate the anatomy and ensure that there were no contraindications to performing the ESG, such as gastric ulceration, erosive duodenitis, the presence of a hiatus hernia > 5 cm, or any malignant or premalignant gastric lesions. A full length esophageal overtube was then sited and the OverStitch device, mounted onto a double-channel endoscope (GIF-2T240; Olympus Medical Systems Corp., Tokyo, Japan), was delivered into the stomach. Starting distally at the level of the incisura angularis and working proximally along the greater curvature to the fundus of the stomach, each plication was formed using a tissue retraction screw (Helix; Apollo Endosurgery Inc., Austin, Texas, United States) to draw the muscularis propria of the stomach wall into the jaws of the Overstitch device in order to take multiple full thickness bites. The bites of each plication were then clinched together to approximate the tissue and produce compressive occlusion of the greater curvature.

Patients were admitted overnight and received regular analgesia, a PPI (Lansoprazole Fast Tabs 30 mg BD), two further doses of intravenous antibiotics, and regular anti-emesis, with strong emphasis placed on avoidance of retching. Patients were permitted to drink water immediately following the procedure and were subsequently progressed to a clear liquid diet for 3 days, a full liquid diet for 2 weeks, pureed food for 2 weeks, and then a soft diet for a further 2 weeks before then returning to ab libitum eating. Patients were advised to consume a low fat, low carbohydrate diet with approximately 60 g of protein per day and were strongly advised to eat small volumes with cessation of eating immediately at the point of satiety. Dietary follow-up was closely supervised by a specialist dietitian.

Follow-up and outcome measures

Follow-up appointments with the multidisciplinary team were offered to patients at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months with annual clinical reviews thereafter. During each visit, wellbeing was reviewed by the operating consultant and full dietary counseling was performed by a specialist dietitian. Basic anthropometric measurements were recorded, including weight (kg) and height (m), from which Total Body Weight Loss (TBWL, kg), BMI (= weight (kg)/(height (m))²), %TBWL (Total Body Weight Loss (%) = (TBWL (kg)/baseline weight (kg)) × 100), and %EWL (Excess Weight Loss (%) = (TBWL (kg))/(baseline weight (kg) – ideal body weight (kg)) × 100) were extrapolated. All other clinically relevant qualitative data were also recorded, including the nature and frequency of adverse events and the subjective impact of ESG on portion sizes, appetite, and satiety.

Statistical analysis

Normally distributed variables are reported as means with standard deviation (SD), and the independent t test was used for comparison of these variables. Non-normally distributed variables are reported as medians with the full range, and the Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare such variables. Categorical variables were compared using the Chi-squared test or Fisher’s exact test as appropriate. A P value < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Data were analyzed using SPSS 24.0 software (IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States).

Results

Patient characteristics

In total, 32 patients underwent ESG during the study period; the first nine consecutive cases were completed utilizing suture pattern 1 (no longitudinal compression) and the subsequent 23 consecutive cases were completed using suture pattern 2 (longitudinal compression). In the no compression and compression groups, the mean ages were 45 ± 12 years and 43 ± 10 years, the median baseline weights were 113.6 kg (range 82.0 – 156.4) and 107 kg (range 74.0 – 136.0), and the median baseline BMIs were 35.9 kg/m² (range 30.9 – 43.8) and 36.5 kg/m² (range 29.8 – 42.9), respectively. There were five female patients (56 %) in the no longitudinal compression group and 18 (78 %) in the longitudinal compression group (P = 0.199). [Table 1] summarizes the baseline patient characteristics. Procedural and baseline anthropometric data were available for all patients, and follow-up data was available for 6 and 12 patients at 1 month for each group, respectively, 4 and 20 patients at 3 months, and 5 and 7 patients at 6 months. The high attrition rate and loss of data at sequential visits were accounted for by patients not attending review appointments and being lost to follow-up.

Table 1 Baseline patient characteristics and ESG technical data.

	No longitudinal compression (n = 9)	Longitudinal compression (n = 23)	P value
Age, mean ± SD, years	45 ± 12	43 ± 10	0.600
Gender, female, n (%)	5 (56)	18 (78)	0.199
Weight, median (range), kg	113.6 (82 – 156.4)	107 (74 – 136)	0.126
BMI, median (range), kg/m2	35.9 (30.9 – 43.8)	36.5 (29.8 – 42.9)	0.950
Theater time, median (range), min	135 (123 – 204)	138 (90 – 185)	0.900
Procedural time, median (range), min	96 (85 – 135)	105 (65 – 139)	0.850
LoS, median (range), days	1 (1 – 4)	1 (1 – 2)	0.150

ESG, endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty; SD, standard deviation; BMI, body mass index; LoS, length of stay.

Procedural outcomes

In the no longitudinal compression group, a median of 6 plications (range, 5 – 8) was used to fashion the endoscopic gastric sleeve, with each plication being created from 4 to 8 full thickness bites. In the second group, two longitudinal compression plications were created in the first instance, each with 10 bites, followed by construction of the second layer of “U”-shaped plications with a median of 4 sutures (range, 3 – 6), each made up of 5 – 9 full-thickness bites. There was no statistically significant difference in procedural time (i. e. time elapsed between commencing and terminating general anesthesia) between the two cohorts with a median procedural time in the no compression group of 96 minutes (range, 85 – 135 minutes) versus 105 minutes (range, 65 – 139 minutes) in the longitudinal compression group (P = 0.850). All patients were admitted to hospital for observation following their ESG with a median length of stay of 1 day in both groups.

The majority of patients experienced self-limiting symptoms postoperatively, including nausea/vomiting in 71.8 % and epigastric discomfort in 62.5 %, which all resolved within 48 hours. These symptoms were reported as mild-to-moderate and were readily controlled with medications. There was no significant difference in postoperative symptoms between the two ESG suture patterns and no serious adverse events were reported in this series.

Weight-loss outcomes

Weight-loss outcomes at 1, 3, and 6 months for both groups are summarized in [Table 2] and in [Fig. 3]. After 6 months, body weight had decreased by 21.1 kg (range, 12.2 – 34.0 kg) in the longitudinal compression group versus 10.8 kg (range, 7.0 – 25.8 kg) in the no longitudinal compression group (P = 0.042). Correspondingly, BMI decreased by 7.8 kg/m² (range, 4.9 – 11.2) and 4.1 kg/m² (range, 2.6 – 7.2) in each group, respectively (P = 0.019). In addition, %TBWL was greater in the longitudinal compression group at 19.5 % (range, 12.9 – 30.4%) compared to 13.2 % (range, 6.2 – 17.1 %) in the no longitudinal compression group (P = 0.042). %EWL at 6 months was also greater in the compression group (52.6 % (37.2 – 120.2 %) vs. 35.5 % (15.1 – 77.8 %) but this failed to reach statistical significance (P = 0.291).

Table 2 Weight loss, BMI, BMI reduction, %TBWL, and %EWL at 1, 3, and 6 months following ESG, with and without longitudinal compression sutures.

	1 month		3 months		6 months		P value
	No longitudinal compression (n = 6)	Longitudinal compression (n = 12)	No longitudinal compression (n = 4)	Longitudinal compression (n = 20)	No longitudinal compression (n = 5)	Longitudinal compression (n = 7)
Weight, median (range), kg	104.6 (75.0 – 139.3)	98.3 (70.6 – 130.6)	102.2 (95.0 – 132.0)	90 (65.0 – 120.7)	106.6 (71.2 – 130.6)	86.2 (76.8 – 108.9)
BMI, median (range), kg/m2	33.6 (28.2 – 39.0)	33.6 (28.7 – 40.9)	34.7 (28.7 – 39.4)	31.5 (25.7 – 37.8)	33.1 (26.6 – 39.6)	31.8 (23.3 – 33.3)
Weight loss, median (range), kg	7.8 (6.0 – 17.1)	7.0 (5.4 – 12.0)	10.9 (7.6 – 24.4)	12.2 (9.0 – 23.0)	10.8 (7.0 – 25.8)[1]	21.1 (12.2 – 34)[1]	0.042[1]
BMI reduction, median (range), kg/m2	2.5 (2.0 – 4.8)	2.6 (1.7 – 3.7)	3.4 (2.8 – 6.8)	4.7 (3.0 – 7.5)	4.1 (2.6 – 7.2)[1]	7.8 (4.9 – 11.2)[1]	0.019[1]
%TBWL, % (range)	7.6 (5.5 – 10.9)	6.9 (4.0 – 10.7)	10.1 (6.7 – 15.6)	13.3 (8.6 – 20.5)	13.2 (6.2 – 17.1)[1]	19.5 (12.9 – 30.4)[1]	0.042[1]
%EWL, % (range)	23.6 (18.0 – 46.6)	22.4 (9.6 – 44.2)	34.1 (16.4 – 47.9)	41 (23.2 – 86.3)	38.5 (15.1 – 77.8)	52.6 (37.2 – 120.2)

BMI, body mass index; TBWL, total body weight loss; EWL, excess weight loss; ESG, endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty.

¹ Denotes significant difference between groups.

Fig. 3 Weight loss (kg), BMI reduction (kg/m²), %TBWL, and %EWL at 1, 3, and 6 months following endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) with and without longitudinal compression sutures. BMI, body mass index; TBWL, total body weight loss; EWL, excess weight loss.

During follow-up visits, subjective reports on appetite, satiety, and portion sizes were reported for 81 % (n = 26) of the patients. Of these, 100 % reported significant early satiety, and portion sizes were reported as being decreased by 50 – 75 %. A significant number of patients also reported an appreciable reduction in their appetite. Two patients in the “no longitudinal compression” group reported an initial good response to their ESG but at 3 months, their weight plateaued and the restrictive effects of the ESG declined. Notably, the first of these patients was hospitalized elsewhere with gastroenteritis and violent vomiting. A follow-up endoscopy demonstrated complete loss of 4 plications, presumed to be a consequence of excessive vomiting. Despite this, the first patient achieved a %TBWL of 9.0 % and the second achieved 13.2 %.

Discussion

Our experience further supports ESG as a safe and effective means of achieving significant weight loss in obese individuals. Alqahani et al. (2018) have reported on the largest prospective series of ESG patients (n = 1000) to date with a follow-up of 18 months [27]. That group used the same suture pattern as the “no longitudinal compression” group in our study, and reported a %TBWL of 13.7 ± 6.8 %, 15.0 ± 7.7 %, and 14.8 ± 8.5 %, and %EWL of 64.3 ± 56.2 %, 67.5 ± 52.3 %, and 64.7 ± 55.4 % at 6, 12, and 18 months, respectively. At 6 months, the median %TBWL in our comparative group was 13.2 % (range, 6.2 – 17.1) and thus comparable to that series. In contrast, %TBWL achieved by patients undergoing ESG using our unique suture pattern was 19.5 % (range, 12.9 – 30.4) with a median %EWL of 52.6 % (range, 37.2 – 120.2). This is significantly greater than the no compression group within our own series (P = 0.042) and also superior to the 6-month %TBWL outcomes reported by Alqahani et al. Our 6-month %TBWL outcomes in this group are also superior to the 6-month outcomes and comparable to the 12- and 24-month outcomes reported in a prospective series by Lopez-Nava et al. [26], which currently represents the best weight-loss outcomes reported in any study of ESG to date. We await our longer-term follow-up data for direct comparison. However, we postulate that the longitudinal compression sutures create superior “concertina-like” compression of the greater curvature, further reducing the volume of the gastroplasty and therefore potentially further supporting the remaining sutures. As a result, satiety increases and portion sizes reduce, as evidenced by our qualitative data.

Adopting this new suture pattern resulted in no additional morbidity or mortality and can be considered as safe practice. Additionally, fashioning of these longitudinal compression sutures is technically straightforward and does not result in any significant increase in procedural time. The transient post-procedural symptoms of nausea and abdominal discomfort are in line with other reported studies and there was no demonstrable difference in symptoms between suture patterns. Unlike other studies that have reported cases of peri-gastric collections, upper gastrointestinal bleeds and perforation, we are yet to report any serious adverse events following ESG.

We recognize important limitations in this study including its retrospective nature, the short duration of follow-up data available, and the small number of patients included. Additionally, all procedures were conducted by a single surgeon, which limits the generalizability of our findings, and the operator learning curve of this procedure may be considered as a potential confounding factor. Saumoy et al. (2017) [14] reviewed the learning curve of a single operator performing ESG and concluded that efficiency was attained after performing 38 cases, with mastery after 55 cases. They also concluded that there were no significant differences in weight-loss outcomes before and after reaching the status of efficiency. It is therefore unlikely that the operator learning curve of the 32 patients reported in this study contributed to the differences in weight loss observed between the two suture patterns.

Nonetheless, our outcomes give preliminary evidence that additional longitudinal compression plications along the greater curvature of the stomach may result in superior weight loss and, therefore, further research into this finding in the form of a prospective randomized controlled trial is justified. Using our 6-month follow-up data, using %TBWL as the primary outcome measure, a sample size of n = 29 (90 % power with a 0.05 significance level and accounting for 20 % loss to follow-up) would be required.

In conclusion, ESG is now established as a safe and efficacious minimally invasive treatment modality in the armamentarium against obesity and obesity-related diseases. The technique of ESG is evolving and outcomes from EBTs continue to improve. We provide preliminary evidence of superior weight loss achieved through a modified gastroplasty suture pattern but further prospective data are required to validate these findings.

Competing interests

MAG has no conflicts of interest or financial ties to disclose. ALM has no conflicts of interest or financial ties to disclose. JK is a proctor for Apollo Endosurgery in the UK.

Acknowledgments

Special thanks are given to Apollo Healthcare Technologies, Spire Healthcare Southampton, Dr. Gontrand Lopez-Nava, and Healthier Weight for their ongoing support of this work.

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