[Bariatric pacing. A new frontier for the treatment of severe obesity]

A new bariatric procedure, gastric myo-electrical stimulation, has been developed. The Implantable Gastric Stimulator (IGS) induces satiety while avoiding the morbidity and mortality of the common restrictive malabsorptive or combination restrictive or malabsorptive procedure. The procedure does not alter normal anatomy. Advantages of IGS therapy are simplicity, a more rapid procedure, a safer procedure and the absence of nutritional side effects associated with some bariatric operations. The devices consists of a stimulation lead implanted in the gastric wall, connected to an electronic pulse generator (Transcend IGS, Transneuronix Inc, Mt. Arlington, NJ, SA) implanted subcutaneously into the abdominal wall. The lead is implanted by laparoscopy into the muscular layer of the lesser curvature of the stomach at the end of the pes anserinus area. The generator is connected (proper connection, was confirmed via radio frequency programming), and implanted subcutaneously. The mechanism of action of the IGS therapy requires a concomitant program of diet and lifestyle modifications in order to optimise the results.