Gastric Balloon

Intragastric balloon is an adjunctive method designed to help weight loss with diet. Overweight people with a body mass index higher than 25 kg/m², who have a prior history of failed attempts of losing weight with diet and exercises, who lost their motivation to diet or do not prefer surgical interventions are eligible for intragastric balloon placement. In addition, this procedure may be beneficial particularly for those who are considered to be too overweight to undergo major surgeries. The use of the balloon to lose weight before a major surgery may help reducing surgical risks associated with overweight.

The balloon system consists of a soft, expandable balloon, a placement tube and a filling system. Intragastric balloon is too big to pass into the gut and leads to a relatively long-term feeling of fullness with smaller food portions. In general, intragastric balloon placement significantly reduces portion sizes and helps you to achieve your long-term weight loss goals.

Intragastric balloons are safely used worldwide in individuals with obesity or overweight. Complications are very rare and may be easily treated. Nausea, vomiting and cramps may occur during the first 2 or 3 days after the placement of the balloon. Certain medications are prescribed prior to hospital discharge to prevent such complications from occurring. Such symptoms disappear after the first 2 or 3 days.The risk for a balloon rupture is not something like the term suggests. Actually the balloon does not rupture; however, the liquid inside the balloon may leak. The leak and deflation of the balloon may be easily detected by the blue color of the urine as the balloon is inflated with methylene blue. If you notice such color change, please contact your doctor immediately for the balloon to be checked endoscopically and removed if necessary.