-A gastric balloon is a silicone balloon that is fitted with a laparoscopy in the stomach and filled with a sterile medical solution to take up a large space in the stomach, hence giving the feeling of satiety and fullness.
-Gastric balloon is the ideal solution for an obese patient who has an increase in weight than the ideal less than 30 kg or BMI (weight/(height) 2) less than 30 and failed to lose weight by diet and sports.
-The duration of the balloon installation is 10 minutes and lasts for 6 months in which the patient gets to the desired ideal weight which he dreamed to reach. While
Some other kinds of gastric balloons last for one year in the body.
-Gastric balloon is a non-surgical procedure performed in a few minutes under local anaesthesia.
-The cost of the gastric balloon varies depending on the type of balloon and the cost of the hospital in which the balloon is installed.
-Who doesn't fit the stomach balloon?
1-The obese patient who has an increase in weight than the ideal above 40 kg.
2-Patient having fat accumulation in many places in the body.
3-Patient who suffers from stomach inflammations and ulcers.
-It is necessary to carry out some laboratory investigations before making a gastric balloon to check on the patient state.
-Gastric balloon is a perfectly safe procedure and does not cause any side effects. However, it is not suitable for patients with gastric inflammations and ulcers for fear of undesirable complications.
-4 Benefits for gastric balloon:
1-The ease of the procedure, as it is performed using only local anesthetic.
2- The speed of the procedure as it takes only few minutes.
3- Achieving impressive results in weight loss, as the patient can loss more than 80% of his excess weight after the procedure.
4- Helping the patient get rid of many diseases related to obesity, especially type II diabetes, high blood pressure, and others.
How does gastric balloon is performed?
The gastric balloon procedure takes about half an hour, and the gastric balloon can be inserted through a capsule designed for swallowing, attached to a thin catheter, and expanded in the stomach. Or through an endoscope, a balloon is placed on it, and the endoscope is a long, flexible tube, equipped with a small camera and a light at the end, to pass from the mouth to the stomach. Then the doctor fills the balloon with saline, and once it is filled, the balloon is closed.
Side effects of the gastric balloon:
1- Feeling of nausea and discomfort for a few days after the operation, and this complaint can be controlled by using some medicines and prescription drugs.- Vomiting occurs as a normal response from the stomach to the presence of a foreign body inside it. It usually disappears after a few days for most people.
- Stomach pain feeling that can be dealt with using appropriate painkillers.
Risks of gastric balloon:
- The shrinkage of the balloon puts the patient at risk of its passage through the digestive system, and the balloon may cause blockage, so it may require urgent surgery to remove it.
- The color of the urine might change due to the leakage of the solution that fills the balloon, which is a saline solution that contains a blue dye, and on its way it may cause a blockage.
- Over-inflating the balloon.
- Acute pancreatitis
- Ulcers problem may appear due to failure to follow health advice such as avoiding of soft drinks, or failure to adhere to the medications prescribed by the doctor.
- The constant pressure of the balloon on the stomach wall may cause a hole, and surgery may be required to fix it.
