Gastric Balloon (Non-Surgical)
The intragastric balloon system is a non-surgical aid in the treatment of obesity. A Non-Surgical Weight Loss Procedure That Supports 3x Faster. It is a soft, expandable, silicone balloon that is placed inside the stomach through endoscopy. Once the balloon is inside the stomach, it is filled with saline solution through a small filling tube attached to the balloon. Once filled, the tube will be gently removed by pulling on the external end, leaving the balloon inside the stomach.
The balloon fills about 30% to 40% of the stomach capacity, increasing feelings of fullness with less food allowing the patient to effectively diet without being continuously hungry.
The balloon can remain placed inside the stomach for a period of up to six months in order to avoid the balloon material to be weakened by the acidic content of the stomach, causing it to deflate.When the weight loss goal hasn’t been reached, the balloon can be replaced with a new one after the six-month interval has been met. The balloon is removed in the same way it was placed, through endoscopy.
The intragastric balloon system is designed to assist with weight loss in people who are 10 to 15 kg above their ideal weight and who have failed to obtain long term weight loss with other weight control programs. The loss of the excess weight will be of about 70% in a six months period. It is important to understand that the intragastric balloon system is an aid to weight loss and must be used in conjunction with a diet plan, exercise program and a behavior modification therapy.
Advantages and Disadvantages
Who Is a Candidate for
Intragastric Balloon?Side Effects, Risks and
Complications of Gastric Balloon:
Advantages:
• No Cutting, Stapling, Stomach Removal, or Major Surgery
• Removable
• Limited Risks and Side Effects
Disadvantages:
• May cause discomfort
• Diet and exercise regimen required to be truly effective
• Risk of rupture, especially if the balloon stays longer in the stomach.
• Bowel obstruction due to migration of an IGB
Intragastric balloon is an especially attractive option because of its lower BMI requirement. With bariatric surgeries, many surgeons require patients to have body mass indexes (BMIs) of 35 or even 40. With the gastric balloon patients, can undergo the procedure with a BMI of only 27. This means that more patients may be suitable candidates for this procedure.
Sometimes bariatric surgeons require bariatric surgery prospects with high BMIs to lose weight, thus reducing risks and potential complications while undergoing bariatric surgery. Patients who need to lose a significant amount of weight before certain bariatric procedures jump-start the process with intragastric balloon. Then when the physician is satisfied with the weight lost, they can remove the balloon and proceed with a more aggressive procedure.
The procedure often produces cramping, nausea, vomiting, gastro-oesophageal reflux and discomfort immediately following placement.
There is a slight risk of balloon deflation while inside the stomach, which can cause obstruction.
After of Surgery
Although the intragastric balloon has not been widely studied, some studies found that (publish data), in six months, patients can lose up to 35% of their excess weight. This compares nicely with the expected 50% with gastric banding and 65% with gastric sleeve and gastric bypass.
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