Assessment of the Application of the Intragastric Balloon Together with Sibutramine: A Prospective Clinical Study

Abstract

The aim of this study is the prospective evaluation of the results of Bioenterics intragastric balloon (BIB) with sibutramine and BIB placement alone in the treatment of obesity. The patients evaluated between March 2006 and January 2007 and enrolled in this study were assessed in two groups as group A (BIB + sibutramine) and group B (BIB). After the follow-up of the patients for 6 months, body mass index (BMI), weight loss, excess weight loss (EWL%), and excess body mass index loss (EBMIL%) values of the patients in both groups were compared. According to the comparison of the weights of the patients in groups A and B at 6 months with the beginning weights of the patients in both groups, there was statistically significant weight loss (p < 0.01). The total weight loss at 6 months in group A was statistically significantly higher than that in group B (p < 0.05). The patients in group A had a mean BMI 34.53 +/- 6.63 kg/m(2), EWL% 38.77 +/- 11.88%, EBMIL% 49.93 +/- 21.52% after 6 months; the patients in group B had a mean BMI 35.29 +/- 6.36 kg/m(2), EWL% 29.06 +/- 17.82%, EBMIL% 36.51 +/- 23.69% after 6 months. There was no statistically significant difference between group A and group B according to the BMI, EWL%, and EBMIL% values (p > 0.05). In the management of obesity, using BIB together with sibutramine before the treatment in the patient group who are planned to have surgery, compared with using only BIB, provides more effective weight loss.