A new non-surgical, non-pharmcological method for treatment of obesity

The intragastric balloon is a new solution for patients suffering from obesity and whose condition does not justify a surgical intervention.
It is made of a soft expandable balloon that can be placed inside the stomach and is filled with air.

Intragastric Balloon	Balloon placed in stomach by endoscope

How is the balloon placed in the stomach?

The procedure is done by a gastroenterologist who is experienced in endoscopy.
Concious sedation is given to the patient and then upper GI endoscopy is done. The gastric balloon is introduced into the stomach and is inflated with air. It floats in the stomach. The procedure takes 20-30 minutes.
Then it is left in the stomach for a period of 6 months. At six months the balloon can be deflated during endoscopy and is then retieved.

How does the balloon work?

The Intragastric balloon is a temporary device that is designed to enable loss of excessive body weight, when diet and exercise, alone, fail to decrease weight to the desired level.
The balloon partially fills the stomach and patients report that they have a feeling of fullness. Therefore they tend to eat less.

Who is a good candidate for the procedure?

-Patients with obesity defined by Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30-40

-BMI is calculated by =
Body weight (in KG), divided by the square of height (in square meter)

-Patients with Type-II diabetes who are difficult to control because of body weight

-Pre-operative use in cases of gross obesity in order to reduce risks from anesthesia and surgery, by partial reduction in weight.

How much weight will I lose with the intragastric balloon?

It is important to understand that the Intragastric balloon is an aid to weight loss and must be used in conjunction with a prescribed diet and exercise. How much weight you will lose depends on how closely you follow your diet.

What unpleasant effects are possible with the intragastric balloon?

Nausea and vomiting can occur in the first few days after placement.
This can be treated with medications.

Conclusions:

The intragastric balloon is a safe and effective noninvasive method in the treatment of morbid obesity. It can be offered to patients unresponsive to diet and medical therapy before surgery