First incisionless bariatric procedure performed in U.S.

Bariatric surgeons at Central Baptist Hospital made U.S. medical history Feb. 16 by performing a groundbreaking bariatric procedure to decrease the capacity of a patient's stomach without making a single incision into her body.

This is the first incisionless procedure of its kind performed in the United States.

Bariatric surgeon Peter M. Denk, M.D., performed the procedure, dubbed POSE (Primary Obesity Surgery, Endoscopy). Dr. Denk was assisted by Dr. John S. Oldham Jr. and Dr. G. Derek Weiss, who have been performing bariatric surgery at Central Baptist Hospital since 2006. Dr. Denk recently joined Drs. Oldham and Weiss in their practice, Bluegrass Bariatric Surgical Associates, after completing a fellowship with Dr. Lee Swanstrom, a pioneer in endoscopic surgery.

To perform POSE, Dr. Denk used a set of endoscopic surgery tools known as the EndoSurgical Operating System(TM) (EOS), manufactured by USGI Medical, and a flexible endoscope to visualize the stomach. He inserted the scope and the EOS through the mouth and then used EOS tools to grasp the stomach tissue and deploy suture anchors to create multiple tissue folds in the stomach wall to reduce its capacity.

"Bariatric surgery is the most effective tool patients have to lose weight and overcome the diseases often associated with it, however, many patients worry about the recovery time and complications associated with surgical incisions," Dr. Denk said. "Eliminating skin incisions offers important advantages including reduced risk of infection, less post-operative pain, faster recovery time and no abdominal scars."

The POSE procedure was performed on 51-year-old Teresia McArthur of Georgetown, who has been battling her weight for more than 15 years. McArthur learned of the groundbreaking procedure as a patient of the Central Baptist Weight Loss Center, which offers a comprehensive approach to weight loss, including the latest in minimally invasive and now incisionless bariatric surgery.

McArthur returned home the same day of the procedure and has resumed normal activities including going back to work. Like patients who have other types of bariatric surgery, she will need to make dietary and behavior changes in order to see and maintain significant weight loss. The procedure appealed to her because it would reshape her stomach and help her to feel full earlier when eating, reducing her desire for more food.

Central Baptist Hospital was chosen as one of a few select sites in the country to perform the innovative POSE procedure.