An Intestinal Liner That Reduces Calorie Intake

The company, GI Dynamics of Lexington, Massachusetts, recently presented a report on the results of tests done using an intestinal liner that duplicates some of the functions of gastric bypass surgery. The liner, called the EndoBarrier, reduces the amount of calories that the body absorbs from food that is eaten. The liner is inserted endoscopically through the mouth, and placed in the small intestine, covering about two feet of the intestine. Test results indicate that the liner can cause weight loss and produce beneficial effects for those with type 2 diabetes.

Gastric bypass surgery is a combination of two weight-loss surgical procedures that reduce calorie intake. In one of these procedures, called restriction, the surgeon creates a smaller stomach using a portion of the original stomach. This smaller stomach restricts the amount of food a person eats, thus reducing calorie intake. In the other procedure, called malabsorption, the surgeon reroutes the small intestine so that food bypasses a portion of the small intestine, reducing the amount of calories (and nutrients) absorbed by the body.

The intestinal liner duplicates some of the malabsorptive characteristics of gastric bypass surgery. Persons participating in the intestinal liner test were able to lose an average of 30 pounds and there was a decrease in the blood sugar level in study subjects. Thus, there was a lessening of symptoms associated with type 2 diabetes.

Research is underway on incisionless procedures that duplicate some of the restrictive features of gastric bypass surgery. And that research is worth noting here. For example, in one procedure, a silicone balloon is inserted, endoscopically, through the mouth into the stomach. When filled with a saline solution, the balloon gives a person a fullness sensation even though the person has eaten less food than normal. Another endoscopic restriction procedure, called transoral gastroplasty or TOGA, reduces the size of the stomach using flexible stabling devices introduced into the stomach via the mouth.

All of the endoscopic procedures mentioned above are reversible. And these procedures should be less traumatic than gastric bypass surgery since they are incisionless. These procedures need more study. However, if these procedures prove to be safe and effective, and if someone can create a weight loss surgical procedure that safely combines the endoscopic restrictive and malabsorptive procedures, the resulting procedure will be a boon to the weight loss industry.

Finally, if the above procedures are proven safe and effective, a weight loss or bariatric center that successfully employs the procedures will gain a competitive advantage.

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Tags: strategic management, bariatric center, environmental scanning