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Intragastric Balloon
The Intragastric Balloon
is indicated for patients who are moderately, severely or morbidly
obese and have lost weight consistently with other programmes. Intragastric
Balloon is an extraordinarily effective procedure and incorporates
a programme to modify dietary behaviour whilst under supervision
by a professional team. The key to success in this case is a follow
up programme the patient is willing to keep to after the balloon
placement.
The Intragastric Balloon
is a soft silicone balloon that is inserted in the stomach and is
filled up with a sterile solution. The balloon gives you a feeling
of satiation, so it should be easier to change eating habits and
as a consequence, lose weight.
How is the Balloon inserted?
 Intragastric
Balloon is a silicone balloon that is endoscopically inserted into
the stomach through the mouth. An initial endoscopy of the oesophagus,
stomach, and first part of the duodenum is carried out to ensure there
is no abnormality. Afterwards the Intragastric Balloon is placed in
the stomach and filled with a blue solution, so if there is a leak
the patient's urine will be dyed a greenish blue colour approximately
60 minutes after the leak. The Intragastric Balloon can be blown up
to a volume between 400 and 700 cubic centimetres. This is decided
during insertion depending on how overweight the patient is and the
size of the stomach.
During its insertion, a local anaesthetic is applied to the throat,
and muscle relaxants are taken to facilitate the procedure and minimise
the patient's discomfort.
The doctor fills the balloon with a catheter that seals hermetically
once it is extracted. The insertion lasts about 20 or 30 minutes,
although it may exceptionally last longer.
The Intragastric Balloon can be used for six months. It is not recommendable
to use it for longer as the stomach's gastric juices can weaken the
stomach's wall. If the patient's tolerance to the balloon has been
good and there are no gastric injuries, a new one can be placed after
extraction of the existing one.
The extraction process is similar to the insertion process, except
that the content of the balloon is sucked up and the wrinkled balloon
is taken out through the mouth.
These procedures can be filmed for training or scientific purposes,
whilst always guaranteeing the patient's privacy.
What Problems can the Intragastric Balloon Cause?
As with all medical procedures, there is a chance of unforeseen reactions
to medical products, procedures or materials used. This varies depending
on the person. It is quite probable there will be certain discomfort
such as cramp, nausea and vomiting. In this case, it is important
to follow your doctor's orders.
Is the Intragastric Balloon for You?
To qualify for the Intragastric balloon you must:
• Be at least 18 years old
• Be at least 30 kilos overweight
• Be ready to follow a supervised medical treatment
There may be additional medical reasons why you may not be able to
undergo the intragastric balloon treatment, so please, always consult
your doctor.
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