Endoscopic therapy for weight regain after bariatric surgery

Abstract

With the cumulative increase in the number of patients undergoing bariatric surgery, postoperative weight regain has become a considerable challenge. Mechanisms for weight regain are not fully understood and the process is likely multifactorial in many cases. Less invasive endoluminal revisions that reduce gastric pouch size and diameter of the gastrojejunal anastomosis may have a more favorable risk profile compared to traditional surgical approaches in this population. Given the proliferation of endoluminal therapies with early evidence suggesting safety and efficacy in the treatment of weight regain, it is likely that endoscopic revision will be an increasingly prominent element in bariatric care.