Preoperative weight loss by intragastric balloon in super-obese patients treated with laparoscopic gastric banding: a case-control study.

Background: The authors investigated the usefulness of preoperative treatment with the BIB intragastric balloon in super-obese patients before undergoing laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB).

Methods: The case-control study involved 43 case patients treated with the intragastric balloon followed by LAGB ("Case" group) and 43 sex-, age- and BMI-matched historical controls treated with LAGB alone.

Results: Mean length of the intragastric balloon treatment was 164.