The Academisch Ziekenhuis Maastricht (AZM hospital) claims to be the first hospital in Europe to use the EndoBarrier Gastrointestinal Liner, a sleeve-like device that makes obese patients kilos lighter in about three months in order for surgery to be less risky.
Two surgeons and two doctors of the AZM will carry out the first operations in Europe using the device, within the scope of a random study of long-term use and effect of the EndoBarrier. Developed in the US, the EndoBarrier also has more advantages. Apparently, as long as the ‘sleeve’ is in place, the symptoms of diabetes are not present. How that actually works is not yet known and needs to be researched.