Intragastric Balloon
As an aid to Treat Obesity

¿What is it? It is spherical balloon made with soft silicone material and totally innocuous, that is inserted into the stomach with digestive endoscopy. The IGB is filled with physiological solution and it is left floating freely in the stomach. This balloon represents an innovative and effective proposal, which is under the supervision of an interdisciplinary group of specialists that serves as help for handling Obesity within an integral program that seeks to modify the patient´s personal, social and dietary behaviors.

¿Who can use an Intragastric Balloon (IGB)?
 

• Patients with IMC between 29 and 35
• Patients with IMC between 30 and 35 and associate pathology (such as mellitus diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, arthrosis)
• Patients with a Body Mass Index (BMI) between 35 and 40 without response to a diet.
• Morbid obese patients to lower their weight before bariatrics surgery.
• This has demonstrated significantly reduced surgical risks.
• Patients with surgical contraindication.
• Patients who have failed with conventional weight loss measures (diet, exercise and pharmacologic treatment).

It is indispensable that those patients are determined to adopt a definitive change in their dietary habits so that the result obtained with the positioning of Intragastric Balloon (IGB) is maintained over time. 
 

¿How is the IGB inserted?
It is a nonsurgical technique, in which the deflated balloon is introduced through the mouth and is guided by an endoscope to the stomach. Once there, the IGB is filled with saline solution and methylene blue to a an amount between 400 to 600 cc., liquid that is retained within the balloon thanks to a valve that prevents it from draining. The balloon floats freely inside the bottom of the stomach, which avoids its adhesion to the gastric walls which prevents the formation of mucosa injuries.

¿How long is the installation of the Intragastric Balloon?
The procedure lasts approximately 15 minutes and shortly after, remaining 2-3 hours in observation; then the patient can go home. In some cases, if the patient desires, they can remain in hospitalized observation for 24 to 48 hours.

¿What preparation is required?
Three days before the procedure the patient must have a clear liquid diet (juices made from water, consommé, tea, aromatic).
You have to fast 12 hours prior to the procedure.

¿What do you feel during the procedure?
Since the procedure is done with sedation, discomfort is at a minimum, after the procedure is done, it is possible to present nauseas, a filling sensation, gastric plenitud and abdominal strain for which medicines will be administered.

¿How long can you have the Balloon?
The presence of the IGB must be a minimum of 6 months. Although the balloon is made of high quality silicone and resistant to stomach acids, with time, the bacteria and the persistent action of the gastric acids can debilitate the walls of the balloon and it can be deflated. The balloon is extracted with a clamp, through an endoscopic procedure similar to the insertion process.

¿Why use the Intragastric Balloon?

Because it is an effective method to lower weight, that does not require hospitalization, nor requires sick leave and allows that the patient to change his/her habits during the time in which they have the IGB.

Since the IGB occupies a part of the patient´s stomach, this will diminish the amount of food that they need to feel full and with this they will eat less, they will fill easily and will progressively lose weight, adopting healthy nutritional habits, which will have to be maintained once the IGB is extracted to maintain the weight that was lost.
 
 

¿When is there a contraindication to inserting the Intragastric Balloon IGB?

In patients with :

• Important Hiatus Hernia
• Complicated gastroesophageal reflux
• Active ulcer in stomach or duodenum
• Gastric bleeding
• Taking prescribed aspirin, anti-inflammatory or anticoagulants.
• Previous major abdominal surgery
• Psychiatric treatment
• Disorders in dietary behavior (bulimia, anorexia), consumption of alcohol or drugs.
• Pregnancy or nursing
• Intestinal inflammatory disease (ulcerative Colitis, Crohn´s disease)
 

 ¿What possible complications can inserting the Balloon have?

In spite of being a generally harmless and safe technique, some complications can appear, not so frequent, but some of them are very severe.

Nauseas, arches and vomiting are not rare (specially during the first days), diffuse abdominal discomfort, gastric bloating, acidity, reflux, regurgitation of food or constipation.

Other more important complications are the deflation of the balloon which forces its immediate extraction given the possibility, migration of the deflated balloon by the intestine which eventually causing an intestinal obstruction that merits a surgical intervention.

Although it is very rare, it has described gastric or intestinal perforation, symptoms that can be very serious given the urgent need of surgical intervention and therefore mortality risk.

Don’t forget that the endoscopy in itself can also cause complications (rare, but has to be kept in mind).

¿What does the success of the IGB treatment depend on?
On a radical and convinced change in the patient´s social, personal, dietary habits and life, with the continuous advice and support from Uniendoscopia´s interdisciplinary group (Gastroenterologist, Internist, Nutritionist, Psychiatrist and Physical trainer).

¿What are the expected results?
 
• Loss between 10 and 30 kg in 6 months
• On average the patients lose 50% of the overweight and lower their IMC between four and five points
• In morbid obesity (IMC > 40), the decrease of the IMC can be at six points
• The results seem to be better in males
• Comparative studies between exclusive diet or diet + IGB exist, where the second scheme achieves faster in losing weight

¿Why do the expectations of weight loss fail with the IGB?
 

• 10% of failures (patients that did not lose weight), directly related to no control with the nutritionist and internists after inserting the balloon.
• Precocious extraction of the balloon due to intolerance
• Rupture of the balloon (manufacturer gives a 6 month guarantee for the integrity of the balloon by replacement of a new one)
• Not achieving the changes in dietary behavior and physical exercise in 6 months, it can take place soon after extracting the balloon where the excessive weight returns
• Between 30-50 % of the patients recover their lost weight in 6 months after extracting the balloon.

Contact us...

Tel.:  3666454-2399289       Cel: 310-8739857        info@uniendoscopia.com