Gastric pacemaker

Synonyms in the broader sense

Stomach reduction, gastroplastics, sleeve stomach, Roux En Y bypass, small intestine bypass, biliopancreatic version according to SCOPINARO, billiopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch, gastric balloon, gastric pacemaker

The gastric pacemaker

The gastric pacemaker is another less invasive measure similar to the gastric balloon. In this method, a gastric pacemaker is inserted into the stomach wall, similar to a pacemaker.
This also requires an operation. The gastric pacemaker regulates the stomach's rhythm of movement. In many overweight people, the stomach empties into the duodenum too quickly, so that there is no feeling of satiety. The electrodes of the pacemaker are placed at the stomach outlet and regulate the stretch reflex with electrical impulses. This ensures that a feeling of satiety arises. In this way, patients also eat less food and lose weight. Since being overweight often comes with heartburn, people with heartburn can benefit from it too.

However, the gastric pacemaker does not lead to as much weight loss as the invasive measures (e.g. the gastric band). It is therefore questionable whether the gastric pacemaker is sufficient as the sole therapy for people with a BMI over 45.