| Transoral Gastroplasty is the new type of weight | | | | not immediately known, except for throat soreness |
| loss surgery that has hit the bariatric world. This | | | | after surgery. |
| surgery allows doctors to use a tool to go in through | | | | Currently two companies have developed medical |
| the patient's mouth instead of cutting into their | | | | devices for the transoral gastroplasty surgery. The |
| abdomen laparoscopically to complete the procedure. | | | | TOGA (Transoral Gastroplasty) tool was developed |
| This leads to no abdominal scars, faster recovery | | | | by Satiety, Inc. and is currently under medical trials |
| time, and less chance of infection. TOGA is similar to | | | | for approval by the FDA. During medical trials, test |
| vertical banded gastroplasty bariatric surgery. The | | | | patients undergo the surgery and then they are |
| instrument is placed down the patient's relaxed and | | | | followed for twelve months afterward to track their |
| open mouth and throat while they are under | | | | weight loss, side effects, and overall results. Test |
| anesthesia. A small camera is attached to the end of | | | | patients are volunteers and are not required to pay |
| the tool in order for the doctor to see what they | | | | for their weight loss surgery. TOGA is currently the |
| are doing during the bariatric surgery. The tool | | | | other product that Satiety, Inc. has introduced to the |
| expands once it is at the opening of the stomach to | | | | public for testing. |
| begin the procedure. A small part of the stomach is | | | | The other company, USGI Medical, has developed |
| stapled off from the rest, thereby letting food slowly | | | | the Primary Obesity Surgery Endoscopic (POSE) tool, |
| drop down to the rest of the stomach to begin the | | | | which serves the same basic purpose and results as |
| digestive process. None of the small intestines or | | | | the TOGA instrument. It has also undergone clinical |
| other organs are changed as it is with gastric bypass | | | | trials and has shown promising results. Besides |
| weight loss surgery. | | | | developing POSE, USGI Medical also has tools that |
| Even though this surgery is still largely experimental, | | | | reduce pouch or stoma sizes in gastric bypass |
| experts estimate that it will be ready for clinical use | | | | patients who have stretched their pouch to the |
| as early as 2010. Additionally, because this surgery is | | | | extent that they are now re-gaining their lost weight |
| so new, doctors are unsure of the long and short | | | | back. This technology is also new to the bariatric |
| term effects, such as amount of weight loss and | | | | surgery market. |
| how long it is kept off. Any negative effects are also | | | | |