Preoperative Weight Reduction Using the Intragastric Balloon

BACKGROUND: Gastric balloon therapy (GBT)is a temporay, nonsurgical treatment for obesity. This retrospective study evaluates safety and efficacy of GBT in obese patients. METHODS: The BioEnterics® Intragastric Balloon (BIB) was endoscopically implanted into each patient's stomach and inflated with saline (450–750 ml). Extraction was planned after 6 months. Data from 190 patients receiving GBT were evaluated. Mean weight was 168.4 − 58.9 kg (range 76.5–310.0) and mean BMI was 55.6 − 17.5 kg/m(2) (range 27.0–95.7). RESULTS: Mean weight loss at the time of balloon removal was 21.2 − 14.0 kg (range 0–80.0). The mean BMI loss and EBL (Excess BMI Loss) were 7.2 − 4.9 kg/m(2) (range 0–28.9) and 30.1 − 26.4% (0–184.4), respectively. The most substantial weight and BMI loss was observed in the most massively obese patients. Minor complications at implantation were encountered in 2 cases (1.1%) due to leakage of the balloon, and in 3 cases at explantation (1.6%). No mortality or major complications such as gastric perforation or ulcers occurred. Of the 190 patients, 76 received subsequent surgery (40.0%). Of those, 7 patients had a BMI < 50 kg/m(2) while all other patients where super-obese(BMI > 50 kg/m(2)). 58 patients (30.5%) with a BMI > 60 kg/m(2) which had an extra ordinary high operation risk were able to receive subsequent surgical treatment because of a substantial weight loss and/or reduced comorbidity. CONCLUSION: GBT appears to be a safe, tolerable, and potentially effective procedure for the initial treatment of morbid obesity.