Obesity
An alternative to gastric bypass surgery, bariatric artery embolization is a less invasive procedure designed to suppress the “head hunger” that results from the portion of your stomach that signals your brain to stimulate appetite.
How does bariatric embolization work?
Bariatric surgery is an effective method of long-term weight loss, but its invasive nature makes it less than ideal for every patient. Bariatric embolization offers a less invasive alternative with effective results.
With bariatric artery embolization, the left gastric artery is blocked to suppress the production of ghrelin, the body’s “hunger hormone.” This peptide stimulates appetite and is mainly produced when the stomach is empty. Obese patients tend to lose natural ghrelin regulation and they tend to have high concentrations of this hormone.
Bariatric embolization damages the left gastric artery to reduce blood supply to the fundus, which procedures ghrelin. This is accomplished with a microcatheter and an embolic agent. The procedure is minimally invasive and has significantly less downtime than bariatric surgery.
Copyright: © J Belg Soc Radiol. 2023 Sep 26;107(1):76. doi: 10.5334/jbsr.3170
What kind of results have patients seen with bariatric embolization?
Many clinical studies have shown positive and lasting results. A study review showed ghrelin production was reduced by 41% at 3 months following the procedure. Low values persisted up to 12 months following the procedure, associated with ongoing weight loss. Few minor adverse effects have been reported.
One clinical study demonstrated an average weight loss of 17% of excess body weight using this technique, and others have reported between 7-13% mean weight loss.1
Who is a candidate for bariatric artery embolization?
This procedure is not necessarily intended as a replacement for gastric bypass in morbidly obese patients, but may present an excellent option for patients with BMI >40 or who weigh less than 400 pounds and who have not had success with other weight loss approaches.
1Bariatric Artery Embolization for Obese Patients. An Up-to-Date Review
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