Early Experience with the Incisionless Operating Platform™ (IOP) for the Treatment of Obesity

We report our initial experience and 6-month outcomes in a single center using the per-oral Incisionless Operating Platform (TM) (IOP) (USGI Medical) to place transmural plications in the gastric fundus and distal body using specialized suture anchors (the Primary Obesity Surgery Endolumenal [POSE] procedure). A prospective observational study was undertaken with institutional Ethics Board approval in a private hospital in Barcelona, Spain. Indicated patients were WHO obesity class I-II, or III, where patients refused a surgical approach. Between February 28, 2011 and March 23, 2012, the POSE procedure was successfully performed in 45 patients: 75.6 % female; mean age 43.4 +/- 9.2 SD (range 21.0-64.0). At baseline: mean absolute weight (AW, kg), 100.8 +/- 12.9 (75.5-132.5); body mass index (BMI, kg/m(2)), 36.7 +/- 3.8 (28.1-46.6). A mean 8.2 suture-anchor plications were placed in the fundus, 3.0 along the distal body wall. Mean operative time, 69.2 +/- 26.6 min (32.0-126.0); patients were discharged in < 24 h. Six-month mean AW was 87.0 +/- 10.3 (68.0-111.5); BMI decreased 5.8 to 31.3 +/- 3.3 (25.1-38.6) (p < 0.001); EWL was 49.4 %; TBWL, 15.5 %. No mortality or operative morbidity. Minor postoperative side effects resolved with treatment by discharge. Patients reported less hunger and earlier satiety post procedure. Liquid intake began 12 h post procedure with full solids by 6 weeks. At 6-month follow-up of a prospective case series, the POSE procedure appeared to provide safe and effective weight loss without the scarring, pain, and recovery issues of open and laparoscopic bariatric surgery. Long-term follow-up and further study are required.