Swallowable Intragastric Balloon

SWALLOWABLE INTRAGASTRIC BALLOON

It is a weight loss method that is not indicated for obesity surgery and aims to reduce the quantity of food consumed in a meal by placing a balloon in the stomach by swallowing a capsule.

What is Intragastric Balloon?

Swallowable gastric balloon is a soft balloon that is placed in your stomach. It is first swallowable balloon that requires no surgery, endoscopy or anesthesia. Intragastric balloon is a bariatric procedure that helps achieve weight loss in combination with behavior change and diet compliance.

How is swallowable intragastric balloon placed?

The balloon is placed during a 20-minute consultation with your doctor.  You swallow a capsule that contains the deflated balloon. The capsule is attached to a thin tube. There is no need for surgery, endoscopy, or anaesthesia. A simple X-ray is used to make sure the capsule is in the right position.

Once the capsule is in your stomach, your doctor will use the tube to fill the balloon with liquid. You will have a second X-ray to confirm the balloon is filled and that the placement is complete. Your doctor will then gently remove the tube and you’ll be on your way. With the balloon in your stomach, you will be able to eat less food without feeling hungry.

After approximately 16 weeks inside your stomach, a time-activated release valve will open, allowing the balloon to empty and pass naturally through your digestive system (also known as your gastrointestinal tract) when you use the toilet. It’s a convenient and safe way to kick-start a healthier lifestyle. In rare cases, the empty balloon may be vomited, although startling, vomiting of the balloon has not been associated with any reported adverse events to date.

How Intragastric Balloon Causes Weight Loss?

• It reduces appetite by covering one-third of stomach volume.
• Reduces the amount of food consumed in a meal.
• Stomach empties more slowly and gives a feeling of fullness for a long time.
• By staying in the stomach for 1 year, it helps the patient to change his eating habits.
• Unlike other bariatric procedures, the stomach balloon is only a restrictive procedure.
• It has no malabsorptive effect.
• It has no metabolic effect.

To Whom The Intragastric Balloon is Applied?

• BMI > 27
• BMI > 50 with high operative risk patients. It is aimed to reduce the risk by providing weight loss before surgery.
• BMI> 40 who do not want to have surgery

Intragastric balloon is applied to patients that are not suitable for obesity surgery. A procedure to help patients lose weight.

Loosing weight ratios

In patients with balloon indication, the chance of success with diet alone is 10-15% while the chance of success with intragastric balloon is 50%. Approximately 20% of the initial weight is given.

Intragastric Balloon Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages

• Supports patients who cannot lose weight on their own.
• An appropriate period of time passes for the change of behavior in the remaining balloon for 1 year.
• If the new eating habits continues after the balloon is removed, the success rate is high.
• The process is reversible.
• Better weight loss rates in the process of regular dietitian control

Advantages according to other balloons

• No endoscopy or anesthesia is required to place the balloon.
• The need for urgent removal in the first 48 hours is lower. (Other Balloons %30-40, Swallowable Balloons %0,1)
• Balloons made from silicone cause more vomiting, while balloons made from polyurethane (swallowable balloon) cause less nausea.
• Balloons made of silicone cause bad breath, while balloons made of polyurethane do not cause bad breath.
• No additional intervention is required to remove the balloon.

Disadvantages

• It is only a restrictive method, it has no metabolic or absorption disturbance.
• There is a risk of gaining weight again if the balloon is removed and returned to the old eating habit.

Complications

• Bloating
• Peptic ulcus
• Diarrhea
• Anesthesia related complications
• Aspiration pneumonia
• Esophageal/Gastric perforation
• Reflux
• Gastric balloon burst and bowel obstruction

Risks
It is the procedure with the lowest risk of death among obesity interventions. The incidence of other complications, except nausea and vomiting, is very low in the first 2-3 days after the procedure

Before - After Photos