An intragastric balloon is a silicone ball that is inserted into the patient's stomach. Subsequently, the balloon is filled with air or water and occupies a significant part of the stomach. Due to this, the patient can no longer take large amounts of food. Because when he tries to eat more than normal, he vomits. Thus, the number of calories consumed is reduced, which promotes weight loss.
The use of this method is designed for 6 months; this period allows the patient to form and consolidate the correct attitude towards nutrition and no longer return to old stereotypes.
The balloon is made of medical silicone, has thin walls and is lightweight. Its outer surface is absolutely smooth. The volume is 400-700 ml. By design, it can be air-filled or water-filled.
The intragastric balloon is inserted using flexible endoscopy. The procedure is endoscopic and technically as simple as inserting a gastric tube. The balloon is inserted under local anesthesia or general anesthesia.
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The period of use of the cylinder does not exceed 6 months. Because its walls become thinner over time under the influence of hydrochloric acid produced by the stomach and can be damaged. After 6 months, the balloon is removed, and if necessary to continue treatment, a new one is installed. To reduce stomach acidity while using the balloon, the patient is recommended to take omeprazole (one capsule per day).
The method of losing excess weight using an intragastric balloon has proven itself to be one of the most effective. With its help, patients on average get rid of 30% of excess body weight. In our practice, a record was registered: the maximum weight loss was 100 kg with the patient’s initial weight of 230 kg. Moreover, the method is quite simple to implement, has a minimum of side effects and in some cases becomes an alternative to surgery.
Technical description of the cylinder
The intragastric balloon is made of high quality medical silicone transparent rubber. It is made in the form of a ball with thin walls, has softness and elasticity. The surface of the cylinder is absolutely smooth. Its volume after filling the internal space ranges from 400 to 700 ml.
Air or water is used to fill the balloon. In the latter case, methylene blue is added to the water. Filling is carried out through a special valve. When filled, the balloon has a diameter of 12-15 cm.
The balloon is supplied deflated in a case and equipped with devices for inserting and inflating it. Factory packaging contains:
- The container is tightly rolled up and covered with a cover.
- A tube with a diameter of 6.5 mm inserted into the cylinder valve. Designed to inflate the balloon. Inside the tube has a wire guide, which provides rigidity and facilitates insertion of the balloon.
- Inflation system.
Collapsed intragastric balloon before insertion.
1. Rolled cylinder 2. Cover 3. Valve 4. Tube
Cylinder validity period
The cylinder is installed for a period of no more than 6 months. After this, it must be removed. If it is necessary to continue treatment using this technique, a new balloon is installed in the patient.
The validity of the balloon is limited due to the fact that it is exposed to hydrochloric acid, which is produced in the stomach. The walls of the cylinder are gradually destroyed by acid and if used for more than six months, its integrity will be compromised. Therefore, the period the balloon remains in the stomach should not exceed 6 months.
Preparing for surgery
We will prepare you for gastroplasty within 1 day. To do this, you will need to undergo gastroscopy, ECG, chest x-ray, ultrasound of the veins of the lower extremities. In addition, our laboratory will carry out all the necessary tests for you. This will ensure safety during surgery and minimize the risk of postoperative complications. Our bariatric center has everything you need for a full examination, so you do not have to visit other clinics and pay for additional procedures in third-party medical organizations.
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Indications for intragastric balloon installation
The indication for installation of an intragastric balloon is a BMI (body mass index) of 30 or higher. At high BMI values (from 50 and above), balloon installation is used as preparation for subsequent radical surgery if the patient has any restrictions for performing the operation immediately.
The main group of patients for whom a balloon is installed are those who have a BMI of 30-35. As a rule, they have already repeatedly used various methods for weight loss, but have not achieved the desired results. Many of them are ready to undergo surgery to place a ring on the stomach. But such an operation is performed only when the BMI value exceeds 35. Therefore, for patients with a BMI of 30-35, balloon installation is an available option.
The second group of patients are those who have a BMI of 50 or higher, but their current health condition does not allow surgery. Because there is a high anesthetic risk. After installing the balloon, the patient loses 30% of excess body weight, the health of such patients improves, and the risks associated with any surgical operation are reduced. Therefore, this technique is used, among other things, to prepare super-obese people for further radical bariatric surgeries, as well as various other surgeries (on joints, to remove hernias, etc.).
The third group consists of patients with a BMI of 40 and above who have severe diseases of the cardiovascular system. Due to illness, such patients will not be able to undergo surgery. For them, the introduction of an intragastric balloon becomes an alternative method of losing excess weight.
The result in six months is permanent
After installing the balloon, the patient is under the supervision of a clinic nutritionist for six months: the nutritionist develops a nutrition program, and at regular appointments gives the patient recommendations and evaluates the results achieved in accordance with the individual weight loss program.
Diet (although it would be more correct to call it a healthy diet) is 50% of success: if after installing the balloon the patient completely switches, for example, to small and super-calorie chocolate bars, then it is unlikely that he will be able to lose weight. But if you listen to a nutritionist, the result is guaranteed!
By the way, this is why, after removing the balloon, patients not only do not gain weight back (as often happens after diets and “magic” pills), but also continue to lose weight. The main thing is to adhere to the healthy habits acquired during treatment.
Video archive of Galina's success story
Contraindications to the installation of an intragastric balloon
Like any other medical technique, the installation of an intragastric balloon has its contraindications. These include:
- The body mass index value is less than 30. The exception is cases where weight loss using a balloon will improve the course of the patient’s concomitant diseases.
- Previously undergone abdominal surgery.
- Previously undergone gynecological operations.
- Inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (such as esophagitis, gastric and duodenal ulcers, Crohn's disease, malignant tumors of the stomach and others).
- The presence of potential sources of bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract (varicose veins of the esophagus and stomach, congenital and acquired telangiectasia, other congenital anomalies of the gastrointestinal tract, including atresia and stenosis).
- Large hiatal hernia.
- Strictures and diverticula of the pharynx and esophagus.
- The patient has other medical factors that make gastroscopy difficult.
- Mental disorders.
- The need to constantly take aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs, steroids, stomach irritants, anticoagulants.
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding.
In addition, an intragastric balloon is not placed if the patient wishes to achieve only a cosmetic effect. However, he has no medical indications for weight loss.
Also, patients suffering from alcoholism or drug addiction, people with low self-discipline who are not able to follow the doctor’s recommendations, come to appointments in a timely manner for monitoring (2 times a month) and adhere to their diet will not be able to use the technique.
Recovery period
If the patient wishes, he can leave the clinic after 2 hours. However, it is recommended to spend the first night in the clinic. To stop attacks of nausea and vomiting, the patient is administered antiemetic drugs.
In the first 3-4 days there may be a feeling of discomfort, then the body adapts and it goes away. During this time, semi-liquid pureed food is recommended. You need to eat and drink slowly, using teaspoons. Intense physical activity should be avoided during the day. You can return to normal training in a week.
After gastric ballooning, split meals are recommended at least 5 times a day. High-calorie foods are excluded from the menu. The diet is based on lean meat and fish, vegetables, whole grain cereals, vegetable oils, fruits, and dairy products.
The diet can be normal, but the best results are achieved with a caloric intake of up to 1500 kcal per day: with a normal diet, the average weight loss over six months is up to 10 kg, with a limited diet - up to 20. It is recommended to regularly consult a nutritionist.
Cylinder installation method
Intragastric balloon placement is an endoscopic procedure and is performed under gastroscopy guidance. It is carried out with complete anesthesia.
The patient is placed on his left side or back. The contents of the package with the BIB system (bariatric intragastric balloon) are laid out on the table. The case in which the cylinder is located is lubricated with a special gel. If the balloon is filled with water, then it is prepared in a container and methylene blue is added. This dye is necessary in order to promptly determine the depressurization of the cylinder (if damaged by rough bones, nut shells, etc.); if this happens, the urine takes on a blue color - the color of the dye - and this is a signal to remove the cylinder, which is in a reduced volume can pass further into the intestine and cause acute intestinal obstruction.
Before inserting the balloon, a gastroscopy is performed to determine whether the patient has any contraindications.
The balloon is inserted through the mouth. A syringe is connected to the catheter and the balloon is inflated through it, monitoring the process using vision. As the balloon inflates, the cover bursts and the balloon is released. When the entire volume of the balloon is filled (400-700 ml), the catheter is pulled out of it with a sharp movement. At the same time, the valve on the wall of the cylinder closes. The balloon itself takes the form of a ball, which is freely located in the stomach.
After this, the catheter along with the gastroscope is removed from the stomach. The procedure is completed.
Intragastric balloon is one of the effective methods of weight loss
The use of an intragastric balloon is one of the many techniques designed to combat excess weight. At the same time, installing a cylinder has its own indications and contraindications. So, this method is becoming increasingly popular. It helps to successfully reorient the patient towards rational eating and significantly reduce body weight. At the same time, under certain conditions it is impossible to use it.
In terms of effectiveness, treatment of obesity using an intragastric balloon occupies an intermediate place between conservative methods of treatment (diet, medications, etc.) and surgical methods (placing a ring on the stomach, bypass surgery).
The idea of using a balloon as a restrictive means when food enters the stomach appeared quite a long time ago. Many years of work on it have allowed us to obtain a high-quality and safe product that allows us to achieve good results.
The intragastric balloon is made of medical silicone rubber and has an absolutely smooth surface. Recently, many types of cylinders have been used (you can see in the section types of cylinders). The material used to make the cylinder does not have any harmful effects on the body. In addition, the device is elastic and easily takes the shape of the stomach, and is lightweight. Due to this, it does not cause any unpleasant sensations, does not disrupt the functioning of the digestive system and practically does not cause complications. It is also simple and easy to use, and its installation is more gentle compared to surgical operations.
Installation of a balloon is recommended primarily for patients whose body mass index is in the range of 30-35. In practice, patients with a balloon installed lose weight in the same way as if they had a ring installed. At the same time, the reduction in body weight with the balloon installed is within 40%, with the ring installed – 50%. Thus, the balloon method allows not only to combat obesity, but also to make predictions regarding possible weight loss for future surgery to install a ring on the stomach.
The principle of operation of the intragastric balloon. Position of the balloon in the stomach.
Intragastric Balloon (intragastric balloon).
Useful invention
Clinic "Elife"
Year founded: 2008 Number of employees: 10 Areas of work: obesity surgery, gynecology, instrumental and ultrasound diagnostics, outpatient surgery, etc.
The essence and purpose of the ballooning procedure is to physically reduce the amount of “free space” in the patient’s stomach. This technique was invented more than 30 years ago by American surgeons to help overweight patients prepare for life-saving operations - after all, they could not lose this weight on their own for medical reasons.
