Intragastric Balloon

Intragastric Balloon as weight loss surgery offers a restrictive endoscopic procedure that uses a device to limit gastric intake and thereby reduce consumption. Weight loss surgery patients must be aware off pre and post surgery requirements.

Benefits
Bariatric surgery of this type is designed for patients who have a body mass index (BMI) of 40 kg/m2 or those with a BMI of 35+ and suffer from obese related morbidity. The recommended age range is between 14 and 65. Nevertheless, there can be exceptions to this rule. Gastric balloon can be performed on patients who suffer from extreme obesity so that they may later qualify for bypass.

Gastric balloon offers the following advantages:

• It is used for patients whose BMI prevents them from having surgery and those who must first have a reduced BMI to minimize the risk of surgical complications.
• It is not a surgical procedure. It is an endoscopic procedure, requiring an incision or anesthetic

Disadvantages are:

• Some patients show intolerance and vomit, making it necessary to remove the balloon.
• It can only be inside the body for 6 months and some regain weight after removal.

Potential complications are:

• Respiratory tract obstruction.
• Incoercible vomit
• Esophageal perforation.

Procedure
Through endoscopic vision, a silicone balloon is utilized to make the patient feel full faster. In this way, food intake diminishes and the patient loses weight.

Hospitalization
Placing and removing the balloon is an ambulatory procedure.

Time
Between 30 minutes and an hour, both for placing and removing the balloon.