Restorative Obesity Surgery, Endolumenal

Restorative obesity surgery,endolumenal, commonly known as ROSE, is an innovative procedure used to treat patients who have regained weight in the years after their gastric bypass operations. This procedure is designed to redefine the limited contours of the stomach pouch created during the previous bariatric operation, and by doing so to decrease food consumption and assist patients in regaining control of their weight.

Candidates for ROSE

Patients who have regained weight after an originally successful gastric bypass operation are normally good candidates for ROSE. What sometimes occurs is that the stomach pouch, and the stoma, the connection between the pouch and the small intestine, have stretched out during the years since the surgery. This results in a laxity that reduces the feeling of fullness the patient experienced when the pouch was still firm. In individuals with a tendency to overeat, this permits an unwanted regain of the some of the lost weight.

The ROSE Procedure

The Rose procedure is a relatively simple one and is an efficient method of resolving the problem. No incision is required since surgeons perform the procedure entirely through the mouth, using a small flexible endoscope. Newly designed surgical tools are used to create new folds in the stomach pouch and to suture them in place. The diameter of the stoma, the opening between the stomach and the small intestine, is also decreased. These two actions reduce the volume the stomach can hold and assist the patient in ingesting smaller quantities of food, leading to renewed weight loss.

Benefits of a ROSE Procedures

Due to the lack of external incisions, the ROSE procedure provides important advantages over traditional, and even laparoscopic, surgery, including:

Less risk of infection and complications
Less postoperative pain
Faster recovery time
No external scarring

Patients usually experience little discomfort after a ROSE procedure. Because the endoscope and a number of surgical instruments have been inserted into the mouth, however, a sore throat, swollen tongue and some pain in the lips can be expected.

Risks of a ROSE Procedure

Because the ROSE procedure is less invasive than other bariatric procedures, there are fewer risks involved. Nonetheless, any surgery involves some chance of complications. The primary risks inherent in a ROSE procedure are perforation of an organ and excessive bleeding, but these occur very rarely.

Recovery from a ROSE Procedure

This surgery is usually performed outpatient, though depending on the several factors, the patient may occasionally have to spend one night in the hospital. Within a few days, patients are typically able to resume their normal activities.