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APOLLO Endosurgery & Overstitch

Weight gain after gastric bypass?
Dumping symptoms after gastric bypass?

Since January 2016, we have successfully established a new therapy procedure in Swiss1Chirurgie for endoscopic revisions after gastric bypass.

Initially, the surgeon Dr. Jörg Zehetner and the gastroenterologist Dr. Hans Merki perfected this technique in 2016 through interdisciplinary cooperation, then Dr. Jörg Zehetner took over this operation alone and has been performing it with his Swiss1Chirurgie team since 2017.

“Dr. Jörg Zehetner is the only surgeon in Switzerland with more than 5 years of experience with this technique. He has already performed the procedure on more than 500 patients, and thus has the most experience in Switzerland with Apollo Endosurgery.”

This new minimally invasive technique, which is operated on endoscopically (through the mouth), can narrow the anastomosis back to its original width or, if necessary, also reduce the size of the gastric pouch and thus restore the restriction. Thus, further weight gain can be prevented and, ideally, the target weight can be reached again.

If you have had laparoscopic bypass surgery in the last few years and are again fighting extra weight due to lack of restriction (narrowing), a gastroscopy or contrast swallow x-ray would be the first step. Then, based on the findings (weight, size, weight loss, anastomosis, pouch size), it can be decided whether this method or another method (such as laparoscopic pouch revision with or without Fobi ring insertion) is the best option.

Since the beginning of 2016, we have treated, initially between 60 and 100 patients annually, and most recently almost 200 patients (2020) annually, with this method. It is a simple and safe surgical method that requires a short inpatient stay. So far, there have been no serious complications. Hospitalisation is necessary because of initial nausea and pain in the hours after the procedure, as well as the risk of bleeding or swelling at the suture.

Since the surgical method has only existed for about 2010 years (the first results came from the USA), the long-term course of anastomotic stenosis cannot yet be predicted. It could be that this procedure then has to be repeated again in a few years or that no further weight loss can be achieved in some patients.

The first 100 patients with the Apollo Overstitch were followed up in a study, the results of which have been published. You can find more information here.

“If you are interested, please contact our Swiss1Chirurgie clinics, I or my staff will be happy to see you for an informative discussion. In Switzerland, I am the surgeon with the most experience with this technique.”

Jörg Zehetner, MD, MMM, FACS, FEBS, Professor (USC)

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