The World Federation for the Surgery of Obesity meeting took place in Hamburg Germany.  Thousands of Weight-loss Surgeons assisted the event many of who are in search of the newest, safest and more effective procedures. Gastric Plication was one of these hot topics at the meeting.

The field of Bariatric Surgery is a constantly changing and expanding into new and different horizons. The buzz this year at the World meeting was the Gastric Plication Surgery. We spoke to congress organizer Dr Rudolph Weiner, Bariatric Surgeon from Frankfurt and Congress President. Our expectations have been al met and exceeded for this event, we have over 2500 surgeons from every corner of the world at the meeting. He went on to explain that one of the key topics for the week long event was in the research of new devices and techniques. I have invited my long time friend and esteemed colleague Dr Ariel Ortiz from Mexico. He has a vast experience with a new procedure called Gastric Plication. Dr Ortiz presented 400 cases of gastric plication with a one year follow-up and a 60% excess weight-loss.

Session 6 of the IFSO meeting took place on the final days of the meeting. I was surprised to see so much interest on the Gastric Plication and our presentation.   The discussion after the presentations directed numerous questions to the panel, many to Dr Ortiz. How to obtain better results, how to avoid complications to how we and where to surgeons train for those interested in the technique, were some of the questions directed to him. After the session there was a long line of surgeons waiting to interview personally with Dr Ortiz and the other experts in the panel. They wanted to ask me specific questions not discussed during the event. There is definitely a growing interest in the procedure world wide.


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OCC’s epidemiologist is closely monitoring the COVID-19 status and is actively issuing updates as they are available. The Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization are the most trusted sources online.  While the CDC has announced new mask protocols for vaccinated individuals, there will be no changes for our office protocols for patients, guests, and staff members as the announcement does not apply to hospitals or medical facilities. Masks are still a requirement for all patients, guests and staff at our facility.

As we reinitiate weight loss surgery, we are constantly adapting and installing new and updated safety measures.

Weight loss surgery is medically necessary.

Bariatric Surgery and the clash of two pandemics.   

Major metabolic and bariatric surgery Societies and colleges globally are now calling for the safe resumption of bariatric and metabolic surgery before the COVID-19 pandemic is declared over. 

The sooner bariatric surgery can be safely performed, the quicker obesity, type 2 diabetes, and other diseases can be reduced or resolved as they are not only chronic they are also progressive.  Obesity is also linked to more than 40 diseases including type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, stroke, sleep apnea, osteoarthritis, and at least 13 different types of cancer.

A recent statement from the ASMBS says “Before COVID-19 began, it was clear that patients with obesity were ‘safer through surgery.’ In the era of COVID-19, ‘safer through surgery’ for patients with obesity may prove to be even more important than before.” Obesity and Metabolic syndrome have been identified as an independent risk factor for adverse outcomes including death among COVID-19 patients.

See here for full COVID-19 update. 

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