The non-endoscopic intragastric balloon is a new weight loss technique currently applied at Bellevue Medical Center. It is designed to assist the patient in reducing his food consumption by taking up space in the stomach. It is indicated for patients who are overweight to obese (BMI>27 kg/m2) having failed dieting attempts or unfit for surgery.
The Gastric Balloon is a soft balloon inserted into the stomach without surgery, endoscopy, or anesthesia, which helps the patient lose weight while achieving significant health benefits.
Stomach balloons help in reducing appetite by delaying gastric emptying and improving feelings of fullness after taking small volumes of food or water. The patient then eats less and feels fuller which results in losing weight.
The procedure takes around 15 minutes. There is no need for hospitalization after the procedure. The patient swallow a small capsule containing the deflated balloon, attached to a thin tube. A doctor will conduct an X-ray to check the placement of the capsule. The balloon is then filled with distilled water and an X-ray is carried out to check that the balloon is filled.
Patients may experience nausea, cramps and vomiting the first couple of days.
Removal of the balloon after 16 weeks doesn’t need a procedure. In most cases, 16 weeks after the placement of the capsule, a valve will open, allowing the balloon to empty and pass naturally through your gastrointestinal tract.
For more information, contact us on 01682666 ext 5650
Source: Machytka E, Chuttani R, Bojkova M, Kupka T, Buzga M, Stecco K, Levy S, Gaur S. Elipse™, a Procedureless Gastric Balloon for Weight Loss: a Proof-of-Concept Pilot Study. Obes Surg. 2016 Mar;26(3):512-6. doi: 10.1007/s11695-015-1783-7. PMID: 26253980.
Ienca R, Al Jarallah M, Caballero A, Giardiello C, Rosa M, Kolmer S, Sebbag H, Hansoulle J, Quartararo G, Zouaghi SAS, Juneja G, Murcia S, Turro R, Pagan A, Badiuddin F, Dargent J, Urbain P, Paveliu S, di Cola RS, Selvaggio C, Al Kuwari M. The Procedureless Elipse Gastric Balloon Program: Multicenter Experience in 1770 Consecutive Patients. Obes Surg. 2020 Sep;30(9):3354-3362. doi: 10.1007/s11695-020-04539-8. Erratum in: Obes Surg. 2020 May 5;: Erratum in: Obes Surg. 2020 Nov;30(11):4691-4692. PMID: 32279182; PMCID: PMC7458897.
