The endoscopic intragastric balloon treatment is a non-surgical method of helping patients with obesity or morbid obesity to lose weight. It is an endoscopic procedure in which a balloon is inserted into the stomach and occupies approximately half of it. The balloon remains in the stomach for up to six months and is intended to increase the sense of satiety and limit the intake of food. The procedure is performed in an outpatient setting as it does not require surgery.

What Endoscopic Intragastric Balloon Treatment Involves The gastric balloon is a thin, biocompatible silicone tube filled with a sterile saline solution that is inserted during a non-chirurgical procedure lasting 20 to 30 minutes. The doctor will use an endoscopic camera to insert the unfilled gastric balloon into the stomach through the mouth and oesophagus.Following the procedure which, depending on the patient’s characteristics, can be performed under local or general anesthesia, the doctor uses a fluid supply tube to fill the gastric balloon.

The endoscopic intragastric balloon does not explicitly cause weight loss — it improves the sense of satiety, which means a patient’s dedication to weight loss is required.The treatment is therefore indicated for patients with a 30 to 70 Body Mass Index (BMI) who are not eligible for weight loss surgery or who wish to have a temporary weight loss option.To be motivated to lose weight, which can be accomplished with the help of medically supervised weight loss programs, and to accept both implants and aftercare.However, in cases of binge eating, stress eating, or patients with heartburn or diabetes, it is not recommended.

Following the Endoscopic Intragastric Balloon Placement

After the endoscopic intragastric balloon has been introduced, the doctor will monitor the reaction of the patient to it before leaving the hospital. The patient will initiate a liquid diet during the first week with the balloon, after which solid food can be eaten in compliance with a healthy diet recommended by the medical team. With the balloon, the person may lose 15 to 25 kg, but it will rely on the behavioral changes that are made along with the device’s implementation.

During the treatment, after no more than six months, the physician will monitor weight loss to ensure the procedure’s success as well as determine the removal of the balloon. The doctor will again insert an endoscopic camera into the stomach through the esophagus in order to puncture the balloon and extract the balloon.

Single balloon endoscopy

A 200 cm long elastic, fiberoptic, endoscope (a one centimeter diameter hose-like pipe with a light and a camera on the tip) is fitted with an equally long overtube for single balloon endoscopy that slides the endoscope’s entire length. A balloon can be inflated and deflated on the end of the overtube. The balloon is blown into the intestine to secure the overtube. When anchoring the overtube, the endoscope can be further progressed into the small intestine. Through cutting the overtube it is possible to shorten and straighten the small intestine to allow the passage of the internal endoscope. The balloon can then be deflated to allow further installation of the overtube and further advancement of the endoscope. The endoscope itself is a regular endoscope with working channels that allows the intestine to be filled with air, rinsed with water, or used to direct the endoscope’s biopsy or electrocautery instruments.

Double balloon endoscopy

Similar equipment is used for double balloon endoscopy, but a second balloon is located at the endoscope tip. Instead, all balloons – the one on the overtube and the one on the endoscope – can be inflated to support the overtube or endoscope to help with the endoscope or overtube