Dr. Bradley Thaemert, MD, FACS, Participates in Innovative Weight Loss Procedure Trial

As a board-certified general surgeon with Surgical Institute of South Dakota since 1998, Dr. Bradley Thaemert has performed more than 1,000 bariatric weight loss procedures, including gastric bypass, gastric band and gastric balloon procedure, as well as the innovative procedure of Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty (ESG).

As one of only a handful of surgeons in the country who does the ESG procedure, Dr. Thaemert recently took part in a multicenter trial sponsored by the Mayo Clinic. The Multi-center ESG Randomized Intervention Trial, or MERIT, included the participation of nine medical groups throughout the United States. 

“The trial was based on the ESG procedure, a non-surgical outpatient weight loss procedure, done through the mouth, where the stomach volume is reduced by 80%,” Dr. Thaemert explained. “There are only a handful of us that do the procedure and it is not covered by most insurance companies.” 

Modifying that was one of the study’s primary goals. “We hope the results of this research helps communicate to insurance companies that the procedure is safe and effective and should be covered,” Dr. Thaemert said.  

Because ESG is a minimally invasive weight loss procedure done endoscopically and on an outpatient basis, it is an excellent option for people who are obese but not interested in a permanent procedure. Those who want to lose about 50 pounds; who have a fear of surgery; or who don’t want scars from incisions are good candidates for the procedure. Patients who opt for the ESG procedure typically have a body mass index of 30-40.  

“Weight loss with the ESG procedure is not as significant as with gastric bypass, but the ESG is specifically for a category of patients who fall into a sort of gray area--a group of people who often struggle because they might be overweight or have diabetes but don’t qualify for weight-loss surgery,” said Dr. Thaemert. 

The MERIT study followed 280 patients who had the ESG procedure done. One year into the two-year study, participants had 45% more excess weight loss as compared to just making lifestyle diet and exercise changes. After two years, 91% of patients had maintained their weight loss. 

“We are seeing good results and received expected outcomes,” Dr. Thaemert said. “We weren’t expecting the MERIT study patients to lose as much weight with this procedure as patients with gastric bypass would, and that is exactly what happened. The results fulfilled our expectations.”

A fellow of the American College of Surgeons, Dr. Thaemert graduated from the University of Minnesota School of Medicine and completed his general surgery residency at Gunderson Medical Foundation-Lutheran Hospital in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. His bachelor’s degree is from the University of Minnesota-Duluth.

Professionally, Dr. Thaemert is an active member of the South Dakota State Medical Association (SDSMA), the American College of Surgeons (ACS), the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons (SLS), the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) and the Seventh District Medical Society. He served as the South Dakota chair of the Committee on Trauma for the American College of Surgeons and is the medical director for the Avera McKennan Bariatric Institute. 

Dr. Thaemert holds an academic appointment at the University of South Dakota as a clinical professor in the Department of Surgery and is active in the education of medical students and residents. He is also an Advanced Trauma Life Support instructor.