Hybrid Argon Plasma Coagulation and Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty Trial

Inclusion criteria

• BMI ≥ 30 and ≤40 kg/m²
• Willingness to comply with the substantial lifelong dietary restrictions required by the procedure.
• History of failure with non-surgical weight-loss methods.
• Willingness to follow protocol requirements, including signed informed consent, routine follow-up schedule, completing laboratory tests, and completing diet counseling.
• Residing within a reasonable distance from the investigator's office and able to travel to the investigator to complete all routine follow-up visits.
• Ability to give informed consent.
• Women of childbearing potential (i.e., not post-menopausal or surgically sterilized) must agree to use adequate birth control methods.

Exclusion criteria

• History of foregut or gastrointestinal (GI) surgery (except uncomplicated cholecystectomy or appendectomy).
• Prior gastrointestinal surgery with sequelae, i.e. obstruction, and/or adhesive peritonitis or known abdominal adhesions.
• Prior open or laparoscopic bariatric surgery.
• Prior surgery of any kind on the esophagus, stomach, or any type of hiatal hernia surgery.
• Any inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract including severe (LA Grade C or D) esophagitis, Barrett's esophagus, gastric ulceration, duodenal ulceration, cancer, or specific inflammatory disease such as Crohn's disease or celiac disease.
• Potential upper gastrointestinal bleeding conditions such as esophageal or gastric varices, congenital or acquired intestinal telangiectasis, or other congenital anomalies of the gastrointestinal tract such as atresias or stenoses.
• Gastrointestinal stromal tumors, history of premalignant gastric lesions (intestinal metaplasia), history of familial and nan-familial adenomatous syndromes.
• A gastric mass or gastric polyps > 1 cm in size.
• A hiatal hernia > 4cm of axial displacement of the z-line above the diaphragm or severe or intractable gastro-esophageal reflux symptoms.
• A structural abnormality in the esophagus or pharynx such as a stricture or diverticulum that could impede passage of the endoscope.
• Achalasia or any other severe esophageal motility disorder
• Severe coagulopathy.
• Insulin-dependent diabetes (either Type 1 or Type 2) or a significant likelihood of requiring insulin treatment in the following 12 months or a HgbA1C≥9.
• Subjects with any serious health condition unrelated to their weight that would increase the risk of endoscopy.
• Chronic abdominal pain.
• Motility disorders of the GI tract such as gross esophageal motility disorders, gastroparesis or intractable constipation.
• Hepatic insufficiency or cirrhosis.
• Use of an intragastric device prior to this study due to the increased thickness of the stomach wall preventing effective suturing.
• Active psychological issues preventing participation in a life-style modification program as determined by a psychologist.
• Patients unwilling to participate in an established medically supervised diet and behavior modification program, with routine medical follow-up.
• Patients receiving daily prescribed treatment with high dose aspirin (> 81mg daily), anti-inflammatory agents, anticoagulants, or other gastric irritants.
• Patients who are unable or unwilling to take prescribed proton pump inhibitor medication.
• Patients who are pregnant or breast-feeding.
• Patients currently taking weight-loss medications or other therapies for weight loss within the prior 6 months.
• Subjects with severe cardiopulmonary disease or other serious organic disease which might include known history of coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction within the past 6 months, poorly controlled hypertension, required use of NSAIDs.
• Subjects taking medications on specified hourly intervals that may be affected by changes to gastric emptying, such as anti-seizure or anti-arrhythmic medications.
• Subjects who are taking corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, and narcotics.
• Symptomatic congestive heart failure, cardiac arrhythmia, or unstable coronary artery disease.
• Pre-existing respiratory disease such as moderate or severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) requiring steroids, pneumonia, or cancer.
• Diagnosis of autoimmune connective tissue disorder (e.g. Systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma) or immunocompromised.
• Specific diagnosed genetic disorder such as Prader Willi syndrome.
• Eating disorders including night eating syndrome (NES), bulimia, binge eating disorder, or compulsive overeating.
• Known history of endocrine disorders affecting weight such as uncontrolled hypothyroidism.
• At the discretion of the PI for subject safety
• If minority inclusion population target of 10% has not been reached by the 90% enrollment mark (example 21 of 24 subjects), the remaining enrollments will be reserved for minority subjects (example 3 of 24 subjects).