EndoBarrier Surgery - Obesity/Bariatric Surgery

EndoBarrier Surgery Abroad

EndoBarrier is the first procedure aimed at helping people suffering from with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes and obesity who see no results from using medications, undesirable injections, and who want to avoid drastic surgery. EndoBarrier is a safe and reversible procedure, which provided long-term results to thousands of patients worldwide.

Causes

Obesity and diabetes are the causes of severe damages to vital organs such as the heart, the kidneys and the liver, which could worsen so much to require the transplant of these organs in order to save the patients’ lives. Experts are working on trying to prevent terminal damages to vital organs caused by diabetes. The Endobarrier technique is a possible and innovative alternative to the malabsorptive bariatric surgery (Gastric bypass surgery, Biliopancreatic Diversion, etc.), which can also grant a decrease of the risks of anesthesia and of the complications of surgery.

Treatment

The EndoBarrier is a medical device aimed towards the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity. It is a thin plastic sleeve which lines the first 60cm of the small intestine, causing food to be absorbed further down in the intestine, leading to weight loss and reduction of blood sugar levels.

The procedure can be performed in under an hour, with the patient under anesthetic. The sleeve is inserted via the mouth, through the stomach to the small intestine where it is fixed in place by a sprung metal anchor to prevent it slipping out.

The EndoBarrier prevents the body from digesting food within the upper part of the small intestine. This means that the body reacts differently to the food you eat. You feel fuller after a smaller meal. The liner also changes the way the body manages blood sugar so that in most patients their blood sugar level rapidly come down into the normal range.

EndoBarrier is therefore similar to that of having as gastric bypass, but does not involve invasive surgery. It is safer, not permanent and is less expensive

Benefits

The EndoBarrier procedure affects key hormones involved in insulin sensitivity, glucose metabolism, satiety and food intake. This leads to a reduction in oral diabetes medications and may prevent a progression to insulin.

Compared to other bariatric surgical techniques available, the advantages of this method are various.

• Completely endoscopic procedure, therefore the patient undergoing this treatment can leave the hospital within 48/72 hours.
• Reversible operation: this device can always be removed.
• Less expensive than the traditional operations
• Short recovery
• No need of intensive care
• Weight loss of more of the 40% of the overweight
•  Remission of the type 2 diabetes
• Lower glycaemia

Cost

As an uninsured patient the full cost for weight loss surgery starts from $15,000-20,000. The final costs will depend on numerous factors such as, any required variations to the procedure, the hospital, the length of stay in hospital and any complications that may require additional treatment. 

The price for the EndoBarrier depends on the geographical location of the facility.  The intervention surgery is not performed widely, and is available at only a handful of medical facilities around the world, and by a handful of surgeons, so costs can be high, and may or may not be covered by medical insurance. Choose a bariatric surgeon with experience and expertise in all bariatric surgical procedures. In addition, it is important that your bariatric surgeon be a member of a domestic or international Society of Bariatric Physicians, and that he or she performs the procedure in a JCI (Joint Commission International) accredited quality hospital or facility.

Doctors

Before undergoing weight loss surgery, it is important to research doctors and make sure that he or she has had ample experience in that particular form of surgery. Since the duodenal switch procedure is not done frequently, it is important to find state-of the art facilities and  knowledgeable surgeons and hospital staff to perform the procedure. Always verify credentials, accreditation and expertise before choosing a particular bariatric surgeon for this procedure. 

 For more information about the EndoBarrier Surgery do not hesitate to contact us!