October 17, 2017 – Endobarrier

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Anchor lead: Can a new device replace the traditional gastric bypass surgery? Elizabeth Tracey reports

A device to treat obesity known as an ‘Endobarrier’ is producing good results in helping people lose weight and manage their diabetes better, a study presented at the recent European Association for the Study of Diabetes meeting found. Kimberley Steele, a bariatric surgeon at Johns Hopkins, describes the intervention.

Steele: This procedure has created a long tube that is placed endoscopically into the first part of the small intestine. What that does is create a passage for the food however it decreases the absorption of that food. It’s in place for a year. It has had some really nice results with weight loss, maybe 30-40 lbs, but that weight loss is enough to reduce the need for insulin, to improve liver function tests, and to remit type 2 diabetes.  :33

Right now the device is only used in Europe but Steele says if further studies have similar results it may soon make its way stateside. At Johns Hopkins, I’m Elizabeth Tracey.