Edmonton hospital using medical technology to offer non-surgical weight loss procedure

The Royal Alexandra Hospital in Edmonton is now providing a non-surgical weight-loss procedure called endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty, one of the first in Canada to adopt the technology. The method involves inserting a thin, flexible tube with a camera into the stomach to stitch and reduce its size, performed under general anesthesia in about an hour and a half. Alberta Health Services covers the procedure with a referral to the hospital’s bariatric surgery clinic, and patients like 65-year-old Mary-Ann Thurber, who lost 95 pounds using Wegovy and the procedure, report quicker recovery times than traditional surgery. Ten patients have undergone the procedure since December, with Dr. Noah Switzer, a bariatric surgeon, calling it a breakthrough in the field. The procedure eliminates incisions, allowing patients to return home the same day without significant pain. Switzer noted it is ideal for those who have succeeded with medications like Ozempic or Wegovy but wish to avoid long-term use, helping maintain weight loss without surgery. For patients needing more than 15% weight loss, traditional surgeries like gastric bypass remain recommended. Dr. Kirles Bishay, a gastroenterologist at the hospital, highlighted the combined expertise of the medical team in ensuring optimal outcomes. The procedure also offers cost savings, with patients potentially spending around $200 monthly on anti-obesity medications and the healthcare system saving approximately $10,000 annually per patient in long-term health costs. Thurber, who previously struggled with mobility and social confidence, now feels more active and plans to travel more easily. The hospital’s adoption of this technology aims to address long wait times for conventional weight-loss surgeries while providing a less invasive alternative. Switzer emphasized the procedure’s potential to reduce obesity-related conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and fatty liver by helping patients achieve 10-15% weight loss. Thurber’s experience underscores the procedure’s appeal for those seeking effective, minimally disruptive weight management solutions.