The intragastric balloon is a spherical-shaped silicone device that is inserted into the patient’s stomach to treat obesity, especially morbid obesity. It is an alternative to obesity surgery that presents fewer risks and has a shorter postoperative period.
Placement of the intragastric balloon
The procedure consists of placing a balloon in the stomach through the esophagus. This balloon is filled with saline, which is added with a blue-colored compound so that, in the event of a rupture, the patient can detect it by seeing that the urine comes out blue.
Before and after the intragastric balloon
Before placement, the Digestive System specialist performs a conventional upper endoscopy to ensure that there is no duodenal, gastric or esophageal pathology that might contraindicate the procedure. On the other hand, sedation or anesthesia is also necessary to perform the intervention, which requires a pre-anesthetic study. Once the intragastric balloon is placed, the patient must modify the quality and quantity of the food he/she eats with a diet controlled by a dietician. It should be noted that this treatment is transitory, so the balloon is removed after about six months with a technique similar to that of the placement.
Benefits of the intragastric balloon
Taking into account that obesity is associated with vascular, metabolic and osteoarticular complications, this technique achieves a weight loss that has not been achieved with conventional methods (diet and exercise) and, therefore, alleviates the consequences of obesity and improves the patient’s health. It can also serve as a preparation for obesity surgery.