The Spanish Foundation of the Digestive System (FEAD) warns that the obesity is a disease that represents a serious health risk of the patient. With the introduction of a small-sized balloon in the stomach, the patient needs to ingest a smaller amount of food to achieve gastric fullness and satiate his appetite. Of course, it is not indicated for all patients, and not only the balloon is necessary for the patient’s weight loss.
The goal of treatment is achieve controlled and sustained weight loss. To do this, the patient must adopt a definitive change in lifestyle: calorie restriction in the diet, physical exercise on a regular basis and modification of unhealthy lifestyle habits. It is indicated in severely obese or for those who have moderate and morbid obesity, but also suffer from other important diseases.
Dr. Alfonso Alcalde Vargas, spokesman for the Spanish Digestive System Foundation (FEAD) explains to Infosalus that the conventional intragastric balloon, a silicone device, has a capacity of 600-700 cubic centimeters and a diameter of about 12 centimeters. “An endoscopy is performed, the balloon is inserted with a probe, and through endoscopic control it is filled the saline and methylene blue balloon, with the objective that if there is a leak the patient eliminates greenish urine that gives the clue that the balloon must be removed in 24-48 because it is punctured. For its normal withdrawal, it is punctured and removed, “he points out.
The specialist at the Costa del Sol Hospital in Marbella and Quirón Salud in Marbella also points to the intragastric balloon, which is ingestible, is simply swallowed, and is eliminated by itself after four months, as the material degrades. Then, he indicates, there are others that are smaller in size, about 250 cubic centimeters in capacity and can be taken in a capsule. “Up to three can be ingested. They are then removed by endoscopy at six months.. There is also a variant, the duo balloon for people with much greater obesity, with two or three balloons joined together,” adds the specialist.
The placement of the ball
The placement of an intragastric balloon can only be performed by a specialist in Digestive Endoscopy, and is preferably carried out under general anesthesia. Specifically, the folded balloon is inserted through the mouth into the stomach. Once in the stomach filled with saline mixed with a dye (usually methylene blue). In this way, the balloon will remain floating in the stomach, significantly reducing its capacity to accommodate food. The duration of this intervention is generally less than 30 minutes, and it does not usually require hospital admission.
During the first days the patient may experience nausea and vomiting. After this time, these symptoms tend to disappear and the patient will only notice that they are satisfied with less food. It is usually advised remove the balloon no later than 6 months. To do this, the endoscopy must be repeated in the operating room, and under general anesthesia, puncture and deflate the balloon and remove it through the mouth.
Regarding the complications that it can cause, Alcalde Vargas maintains that in principle silicone does not usually cause allergies in patients. “Another thing is that there are people who have had to withdraw this ball in the first weeks for intolerance, vomiting, or dehydration, but already in complications associated with the balloon. By itself, due to its material, it does not usually cause allergies, “he adds. When it is not recommended
On the other hand, the placement of the balloon is contraindicated in people with previous surgical interventions in the stomach, significant gastric injuries, pregnancyor with difficulties to accept the treatment and monitor it.
In this sense, the specialist at the Costa del Sol Hospital in Marbella rules out the use of the gastric balloon when the patient suffers from chronic systemic diseases, digestive diseases such as ulcers or tumors or hiatal hernias. “It is always important to perform an endoscopy before placing a balloon. The patient and generic contraindications must be well assessed. The most important thing is to make a correct prior assessment to put a ball”, he indicates.
Although it is a safe technique, all interventions have their risks. For this reason, the FEAD indicates that the balloon may deflate due to a puncture and pass into the small intestine and cause its obstruction. “The appearance of lacerations, ulcers, bleeding, or perforations it’s possible. There are effective medical and endoscopic treatments to solve these complications”, they add. Suitability of the patient
Dr. Alcalde Vargas emphasizes on the suitability of the patient that those patients who are not qualified to adhere to the control and monitoring program will not be candidates for the gastric balloon. “The balloon is not indicated in all patients. Its suitability must be assessed by a team of specialists who will analyze its possible advantages and disadvantages. Its placement is usually recommended only in those cases of obesity in which the body mass index is higher to 30. The patients who benefit most from this type of treatment are those who are greatly overweight (weight > 40% or > 20-25 kg compared to your ideal weight)”, point out from the Spanish Foundation of the Digestive System (FEAD).
Although each case must always be individualized, this treatment is generally indicated in patients between 18 and 65 years of age. “The efficacy of the intragastric balloon as a weight loss method has been fully demonstrated. It is estimated that in patients with significant obesity, weight loss is close to 1 kilo a week. However, it must be emphasized that the efficacy in the long term, once the balloon is removed, it will depend on the patient change your dietary habits. An intragastric balloon is a temporary and complementary measure to lifestyle changes,” adds FEAD.
Regarding its useful life, both in the conventional balloon and in the small ones, the maximum period that can remain in the patient’s body is six months, while the one that disintegrates by itself is four months. Here Mayor Vargas specifies that the conventional ball can stay up to 12 months in the person, although under strict control by the patient, and after four or six months it fills up with fluid again.