Gastric Imbrication

Our newest procedure is the Laparoscopic Greater Curvature Plication, or Gastric Imbrication.

Like the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy or Sleeve Gastrectomy, the stomach is formed into a tube with a limited volume. Usually this is only several ounces in size. By infolding the stomach rather than cutting it out, the procedure offers safety and potential reversibility. Also the risks of narrowing and leaks are greatly reduced. This causes you to feel full when only eating a small amount of food without the need for implanted device to the same feeling and achieve weight loss.

Rapidity of weight loss is in between that of the adjustable bands and the sleeve gastrectomy.

Malnutrition syndromes, quite common in gastric bypass, are also greatly reduced. This procedure is still considered investigational by all the major insurance carriers. Attend a free seminar to learn more about this and other procedures offered by Dr Wilkenfeld.

How is Gastric Plication Performed?

It is done as a laparoscopic outpatient procedure whereby five or six tiny incisions are made in the abdomen. These incisions allow a video camera or laparoscope, and other long instruments into the abdominal cavity.

Once the incisions are made and the instruments are in place, one or more large folds are sewn in the stomach. The stomach is reduced by about 70% during laparoscopic gastric plication or gastric imbrication, so it will hold less food, and this fact may help you eat less.

In contrast to other weight loss methods, there is no cutting (other than the small incisions), no stapling, and there is no removal of stomach tissue or intestines when you undergo gastric plication surgery. If needed gastric plication or imbrication may be reversed or converted to another procedure if necessary.

How is Gastric Plication Performed?

There are risks that are common to any laparoscopic procedure such as bleeding, infection, injury to other organs, or the need to convert to an open procedure. There is also a small risk of a leak from the suture line used to imbricate/plicate ("fold") the stomach. These problems are rare and major complications occur less than 1% of the time.

What Are The benefits Of Laparoscopic Gastric Plication?

Depending on their pre-operative weight, patients can expect to lose between 40% to 70% of their excess body weight in the first year after surgery. Many obesity-related comorbidities improve or resolve after bariatric surgery. Diabetes, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea and abnormal cholesterol levels are improved in more than 75% of patients undergoing a bariatric procedure. Though long-term studies are not yet available, the weight loss that occurs after Gastric Plication results in significant improvement in these medical conditions in the first year after surgery.

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