title: Emerging technologies and procedures: results of an online survey and real-time poll.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many new techniques and bariatric endoluminal procedures are being developed and used for the treatment of obesity. Clear guidelines or opinions of the new techniques are not readily available. The aim of this study was to gauge the level of interest and opinions of bariatric surgeons regarding these new techniques, using online and real poll surveys.
  
  
  METHODS
  The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) Emerging Technologies committee developed a questionnaire that was distributed among the membership and conducted a live poll of attendees at Obesity Week 2013. Opinions of new technologies and techniques by practitioners were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 134 responses to the questionnaire were returned. Most responses (79%) expressed the belief that new bariatric techniques are needed to improve the practice of bariatric and metabolic surgery. The responses describing the effects of new procedures and technology as beneficial were (1) increased interest from patients or referring physicians (94%), (2) expanded indications for intervention (93%), and (3) lower risk intervention (96%). Nearly all respondents (90.2%) identified value in informational guidelines on new technologies and procedures, and most (88.7%) agreed that the ASMBS should coordinate clinical trials or registries to evaluate these therapies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although most bariatric and metabolic surgeons agree that new endoluminal surgical techniques are beneficial, most also are unable to offer the procedures to their patients without more clinical evidence and clear guidelines from the society.
authors.affiliation: Stony Brook University Medical Center, Stony Brook, New York.
authors.forename: Richa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Verma
authors.affiliation: Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Eid
authors.affiliation: University of California Davis, Davis, California.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: The Brooklyn Hospital Center, Brooklyn, New York.
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saber
authors.affiliation: Stony Brook University Medical Center, Stony Brook, New York. Electronic address: Aurora.pryor@sbumed.org.
authors.forename: Aurora D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Pryor
mesh_terms: D050110:Bariatric Surgery / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends*; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D062069:Inventions / Q000639:trends; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Bariatric; Emerging technology; Endoluminal; New procedures; Obesity; Weight loss