Effects of Vagus Nerve Cryoablation on Glycemic Control and Weight Loss in Obese Patients With Type 2 Diabetes

The Visual ICE Cryoablation System is a mobile console system intended for cryoablative tissue destruction using a minimally invasive procedure. The Visual-ICE System uses high-pressure argon gas that circulates through closed-tip cryoablation needles to induce tissue freezing. Active tissue thawing is achieved by circulating helium gas through the needles or, alternatively, by the use of Galil Medical i-Thaw technology. The procedure will be done under CT guidance and involves a 4-5 mm scalpel incision followed by percutaneous probe placement about the posterior gastroesophageal junction (the location of the posterior vagal trunk). The probe will create a zone of decreased temperature (-20 to -40 degrees Celsius) involving the posterior vagal nerve fibers/plexus. The cryoablation process will include a 3-minute freeze, followed by a 1-minute thaw, and a second 3-minute freeze and 1 minute thaw.

The lifestyle intervention structure will include three face-to-face counseling sessions at baseline, 3 and 6 months. Dietary counseling to follow a low carbohydrate diet will be provided by a registered dietitian. Focus will be on increasing fruits and vegetables and decreasing refined sugars and processed foods. It will also include motivational interviewing, goal setting and nutrition education. In addition, subjects will be encouraged by exercise physiologist to slowly increase physical activity to at least 150 minutes weekly. There will be weekly phone calls or texts (participants' choice) providing a total of 26 points of contact recommended by the United States Preventive Services Task Force.