Intragastric balloon

Balloon placement is indicated for obese patients aged 18 to 60 with a body mass index of 30 to 40 kg/m² (premorbid obesity), typically corresponding to an excess weight of 15–25 kg. Exceptionally, in cases of morbid obesity, the balloon can be used to reduce surgical risk or if surgery is contraindicated, and in cases of mild overweight until the condition is corrected.

Patients with endocrinological or mental disorders that prevent them from following a diet are excluded from the group of indicated candidates. Also excluded are patients with previous gastric surgery, hiatal hernia, or severe coagulation disorders.

In this case, not only who, but also where, is important. As in obesity surgery, the surgeon must be skilled, and the procedure must take place in a medical centre equipped to handle unforeseen events. The same applies to the intragastric balloon. It is an endoscopic technique and should only be performed by an expert endoscopist in an Endoscopy Unit such as ours, which is open daily from 8 am to 8 pm, with a 24-hour on-call team in order to respond swiftly and effectively to any emergency.

Cómo se coloca el balón

How the balloon is fitted The balloon is fitted on an outpatient basis with mild sedation managed by the anaesthetist and guided endoscopically, inserting both the balloon and the endoscope through the oral cavity without requiring surgery. The procedure lasts no more than 20 minutes, and the patient can go home 30 to 40 minutes afterwards.

No. The balloon alone does not produce weight loss: follow-up appointments with the consultant are necessary to guide and monitor the diet, which can be adhered to easily as it does not induce hunger, anxiety, or other adverse effects typically associated with weight-loss diets.

The Endoscopy and Digestive Functional Tests Unit pioneered the introduction of the intragastric balloon in Spain, and has since performed this technique on numerous patients. We have helped improve placement and removal techniques and also designed a 24-72 hour follow-up protocol, enabling us to be among the medical centres with the lowest balloon rejection rates (2%).

In recognition of this experience, we have taken part in a range of congresses and meetings, including the round table at the 15th National Surgery Congress in November 2004 in Madrid; the 20th Congress of the Spanish Society of Aesthetic Medicine in Barcelona in February 2005; the 8th Congress of the Spanish Society of Obesity Surgery in Vigo in September 2005; and the 1st Course on Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery on Obesity-Post-Bariatric Surgery, held at Centro Médico Teknon in February 2006.

In our initial results presented at the 2002 American Digestive Congress in Chicago (DDW), our patients experienced an average weight loss of 14.5 kg over six months; in the study presented at the 1st Congress of the Spanish Federation of Nutrition, Feeding and Dietetic Societies in 2006, as shown in the presentations section, the average weight loss was 18.5 kg over six months; and in the most recent balloons we have removed, we achieved an average weight loss of approximately 20–22 kg.

The balloon remains in place for 6 months and must then be removed.

Nausea, vomiting, and epigastric discomfort are normal during the first two or three days as the stomach reacts to the presence of the balloon. Typically, no further adverse effects occur after these initial days.