TOGA Transoral gastroplasty, less invasive way to treat obesity

Drs. Roger de la Torre and J. Stephen Scott, on staff at the SSM Weight Loss Institute at SSM DePaul, and Dr. Thomas J. Fogarty, developed the first endoscopic gastric bypass procedure. The procedure, called transoral gastroplasty (TOGA), involves the use of flexible instruments inserted into the stomach through the mouth.

With the aid of an endoscope, doctors position a sleeve and staple a section of the stomach into a small pouch that slows down digestion and makes patients feel full after eating a small amount of food.

Obesity is a national epidemic and this procedure has the potential to open the door for more patients to receive a potentially life-saving cure,” Dr. Scott said.

Unlike other bariatric procedures, the TOGA does not require any incisions. That translates into quicker recover times, shortened hospital stays, and a decreased risk of complications. TOGA also can be used on patients who are heavier or lighter than those who qualify as candidates for more traditional gastric bypass surgery. The procedure has been tested in other countries since 2006. However, the first U.S. study began in July 2008, when a woman from Granite City, Ill., had the procedure done in St. Louis. U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval is pending upon the completion of the study.

Source: SSM Health Care