Intragastric Balloon Treatment Research Articles

Is Bariatric Surgery Necessary after Intragastric Balloon Treatment?

The use of the Bio-Enterics intra-gastric balloon (BIB) has been shown to be a safe and effective procedure for the temporary treatment of morbid obesity. We conducted a retrospective comparative analysis of the weight loss in patients that after BIB removal underwent bariatric surgery and those who did not wish surgery. From January 2000 to March 2004, 182 BIBs were positioned in 175 patients (104 F / 71 M; mean age 37.1+/-11.6 years, range 16-67; mean BMI 54.4 +/- 8.1 kg/m(2), range 39.8-79.5; mean %EW 160.8+/-32.9% range 89-264). Patients were excluded from this study who had emergency BIB removal for balloon rupture (n=2, 1.1%) and for psychological intolerance (n=7, 7.8%). All patients were scheduled for a bariatric operation, before BIB positioning. After BIB removal, a number of patients now declined surgery. Consequently, patients were allocated into 2 groups: Group A in whom BIB removal was followed by bariatric surgery (Lap-Band, laparoscopic gastric bypass, duodenal switch) (n=86); Group B patients who after BIB removal refused any surgical procedure (n=82). Both groups were followed for a minimum of 12 months. Results were reported as mean BMI and %EWL +/- SD. Statistical analysis was done by Student t-test or Fisher's exact test, with P<0.05 considered significant. Mean BMI and mean %EWL in the 166 patients at time of removal were 47.3 +/- 8.1 kg/m(2) and 32.1+/-16.6%, respectively. At the same time, mean BMI was 47.6+/-6.9 and 48.1+/-6.5 kg/m(2) in group A and B (P=NS). At 12 months follow-up (100%), mean BMI was 35.1 kg/m(2) in Group A (BIB + surgery) and 51.7 kg/m(2) in Group B (BIB alone) (P<0.001). After BIB removal, half (49.4%) of the patients scheduled for surgery refused a bariatric operation. These patients returned to their mean initial weight at 12 months follow-up. Therefore, bariatric surgery after BIB removal is highly recommended.

Intragastric Balloon in Ethnic Obese Chinese: Initial Experience

We evaluated the effectiveness and safety of intragastric balloon (IGB) for the treatment of obesity in ethnic Chinese in Hong Kong. 15 Chinese patients (10 females; median age 40 years (range 21-58)) completed IGB treatment over a 10-month period since November 2004. Median baseline body weight (BW) and BMI were 100.1 (range 78.5-170.3) kg and 39.4 (range 29.6-56.9) kg/m2 respectively. Coexistent obesity-related morbidities were present in 80% of patients. The Bioenterics Intragastric Balloon (BIB) was employed, and all placement and removal were performed endoscopically under intravenous conscious sedation. A restricted balanced diet (approximately 1200 kcal/day) and 150 minutes/week of moderate-intensity exercise were prescribed after balloon placement in a multidisciplinary approach. Outcome measures were collected and assessed in a prospective manner. Median procedure time was 25 (range 19-45) minutes and median hospital stay was 2 (range 1-6) days. Median BW and BMI loss were 15.3 (range 5.3-30.9) kg and 5.6 (range 1.9-12.5) kg/m2 after IGB. The median waist circumference (WC) loss was 9 (range 4-23) cm, and 66.7% of patients were highly satisfied with the treatment. No serious complication related to IGB was observed. IGB is a safe and effective device that achieves moderate weight loss in obese ethnic Chinese patients.

Preoperative weight loss by intragastric balloon in super-obese patients treated with laparoscopic gastric banding: a case-control study.

The authors investigated the usefulness of preoperative treatment with the BIB intragastric balloon in super-obese patients before undergoing laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB). The case-control study involved 43 case patients treated with the intragastric balloon followed by LAGB ("Case" group) and 43 sex-, age- and BMI-matched historical controls treated with LAGB alone. Mean length of the intragastric balloon treatment was 164.4+/-39.7 days, with a fill volume of 609+/-95 ml. Total complication rate with balloon was 7.0% and percent excess weight loss (%EWL) was 26.1 +/- SD 9.3 %. At the time of gastric band placement, both operative time and hospital stay were shorter in patients treated previously with the balloon (Case group) than in the Control group patients. No Case patients required conversion to open surgery or had intraoperative complications. In the Control group, the rate of conversion was 16.3% (P<0.05) and the rate of intraoperative complications was 7.0%. Postoperative follow-up length was 1.1+/-1.0 years in Case patients and 4.4+/-1.8 years in Control patients (P<0.001). The %EWL produced by the intragastric balloon in the Case patients was identical to the %EWL observed in the first 6 months after LAGB in the Control group (26.1+/-9.3 vs 25.3+/-12.4%). %EWL 6 months after banding was higher in the Case patients than in Controls (33.6+/-12.5 vs 25.3+/-12.4%, P<0.01). However, no significant difference in %EWL between the two groups was observed at the subsequent postoperative evaluations. Preoperative treatment with the intragastric balloon reduced the risk of conversion to open surgery and the risk of intraoperative complications in super-obese patients treated with LAGB. Preoperative treatment with the intragastric balloon did not change the total weight loss after LAGB.

Gastro-oesophageal Reflux in Obese Subjects: Influence of Overweight, Weight Loss and Chronic Gastric Balloon Distension

Background: Gastro-oesophageal reflux is an obesity-related health risk assumed to improve after weight loss. Prolonged intragastric balloon distension might oppose this. The purpose of the study was to investigate the prevalence of gastro-oesophageal reflux in untreated obese subjects and to study the consequences of weight loss with or without intragastric balloon treatment. Methods: Patients participating in a randomized double-blind, sham-controlled trial received balloon or sham treatment for the first 13 weeks. Thereafter, all subjects received a balloon for the remaining year. Twenty-four-hour pH recordings were made at the start, after 13 weeks of balloon or sham treatment, after 26 and 52 weeks of balloon treatment and 13 weeks after balloon removal. Results: Group-wise, pH data of 42 untreated patients (BMI 43.4 kg/m 2 ) were highly abnormal. On an individual level, 22 subjects (52%) had some evidence of reflux, 17 patients (40%) showed pathological total reflux times and 8 (19%) had combined total, upright and supine reflux with grade B reflux oesophagitis in only one patient. Albeit poorly, oesophageal acid exposure was related to body weight and visceral fat distribution. A reduction in acid reflux was observed in sham-treated weight-losing subjects, whereas in balloon-treated subjects supine reflux and duration of the longest reflux increased. In the second 13-week period, the initially improved pH values worsened by balloon placement in sham-treated subjects. Values in balloon-balloon-treated subjects stabilized. After 52 weeks, acid reflux levelled off at pretreatment values and further improved after balloon removal. At these times, decreased visceral fat masses correlated significantly with diminished oesophageal exposure to acid. Conclusions: Obesity predisposed to gastro-oesophageal reflux. Body weight loss and, strikingly, visceral fat loss resulted in improved reflux parameters. Adverse effects on acid reflux by gastric balloon distension wore off over time.

Jejunal Entrapment of a Gastric Balloon

To the Editor.— Use of the intragastric balloon for treatment of morbid obesity is a relatively new concept in this country. The balloon is placed into the stomach either blindly or under endoscopic control and then inflated. The exact mechanism of weight loss is unknown, but is believed to be related to early satiation. Although complications exist, 1-5 the need for surgical intervention is unusual and has prompted our following report. Report of a Case.— The patient was a 42-year-old, 1.6-m (5 ft 3 in) tall, 95-kg (211-lb) woman who had had a Garren-Edwards gastric balloon (American Edwards Company, Santa Ana, Calif) inserted at another institution for weight control. The balloon was placed under endoscopic control, then filled with approximately 200 mL of air. When fully inflated, the balloon is about the size and shape of a soft drink can. Two weeks following placement, the balloon was changed because it