Role of Endoscopy in the Treatment of Bariatric and Metabolic Disease

Abstract

Obesity is a complex metabolic disease caused by excess body fat, which can be associated with many health problems. Bariatric surgery is the most effective treatment for morbid obesity. However, only small number of patients undergo surgery despite definite benefits. The upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with flexible device is an essential tool in the evaluation of post bariatric surgery patient. It plays an important role in treating complications occurring after bariatric surgery. Recently, there has been active research and development on endoscopic procedures to achieve similar effects with bariatric surgery in less invasive ways. Endoluminal interventions performed using flexible endoscopy might be less effective than current surgical approaches, but it can offer alternative approaches to the treatment of obesity that are safer and more cost-effective. This article provides an overview of endoscopic procedures for postoperative complication and new emerging endoscopic techniques for primary endoscopic bariatric therapies. Knowing the type, indication, expected effect, and development potential of endoscopic procedures might be of great help to surgeons performing bariatric procedures.