Obesity and Bariatric Embolization
Obesity continues to be one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, without effective nonsurgical options for management. Bariatric embolization, which describes transcatheter embolization of the left gastric artery to induce ischemia of the fundus of the stomach, has emerged as a potential treatment option. The fundamental premise of this procedure is to reduce circulating levels of the hormone ghrelin, which is the only hormone that directly stimulates hunger. While numerous preclinical studies have confirmed this potential mechanism of action, only pilot feasibility studies have been published for results in humans, until one recent randomized controlled trial comparing bariatric embolization to a sham procedure. The goal of this chapter is to review all of the prior and current preclinical and clinical data on bariatric embolization as well as the underlying principles, theories, and controversies.
