Weight Loss and Gastrointestinal Hormone Variation Caused by Gastric Artery Embolization: An Updated Analysis Study

Percutaneous gastric embolization for obesity: A prospective mid-term outcomes study

INTRODUCTION

Obesity represents one of the most pressing public health challenges that needs to be solved globally, with serious health implications. Despite primary prevention efforts the prevalence of obesity continues to increase. Percutaneous gastric embolisation (PGE) has emerged as a promising technique in the management of this disease.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Prospective longitudinal cohort study including 15 patients diagnosed with grade III obesity, admitted to the Haemodynamics Service of the Cardiovascular Health Institute during the year 2022.

RESULTS

The 86.7% of the PGEs were successful. Treated patients experienced significant weight loss when comparing baseline weight (101.2±23.0, SE=5.9) with weight at 6 months after the interventional procedure (91.5±19.8, SE=5.1) t(14)=5.3, P<.001, d=0.45, especially males (106.7±18.4, P=.01). No major vascular complications, gastric ulcer or ischaemia, or abdominal symptoms were documented in any of the patients included in the study. Only 6 patients (40%) presented with epigastralgia, 9 (60%) with nausea and 3 (20%) with vomiting.

CONCLUSIONS

Percutaneous gastric embolisation is an effective and safe procedure to reduce BMI with a high success rate, well tolerated by obese patients, without major complications, whose results are maintained over time.

Repeated photodynamic therapy using a chlorin e6-embedded device to prolong the therapeutic effects on obesity

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of repeated photodynamic therapy (PDT) with a chlorin e6 (Ce6)-embedded intragastric satiety-inducing device (ISD) to maintain therapeutic effects of obesity in a juvenile pig.

METHODS

The Ce6-embedded ISD was fabricated with a dipping method. Twelve pigs were divided into four groups of three and were administered control, single, biweekly, or weekly PDT, respectively. The therapeutic effects were assessed by comparing the results of phototoxicity, endoscopy, fluoroscopy, hormone and weight changes, and histological examination.

RESULTS

The percentage of total body weight gain was significantly suppressed in PDT-treated pigs compared with control pigs (all p < 0.001). This suppression persisted in the repeated PDT groups, but percentage of total body weight gain gradually increased when PDT was stopped. Ghrelin levels in the PDT-treated groups were significantly lower and leptin levels were significantly higher than those in the control group (all p < 0.05). Inflammatory cell infiltration, collagen, TUNEL, and anti-ghrelin-positive deposition in the weekly group were significantly higher than those in the control, single, and biweekly groups (all p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Repeated and periodic PDT was technically feasible and safe and successfully maintained the therapeutic effects against obesity while eliminating the indwelling time and reducing ISD-related complications in pigs.