Tolerance and efficacy of an air-filled balloon in non-morbidly obese patients: results of a prospective multicenter study.

Background: Intragastric balloons have been proposed to induce body weight loss in obese subjects. Most studies were performed using liquid-filled balloons. Air-filled balloons may increase digestive tolerance.

Effects of intragastric balloon on gastric emptying and plasma ghrelin levels in non-morbid obese patients.

Background: Intragastric balloons have been proposed to induce weight loss in obese subjects. The consequences of the balloon on gastric physiology remain poorly studied. We studied the influence of an intragastric balloon on gastric emptying and ghrelin secretion in non-morbid obese patients.

Intragastric balloon for "non-morbid" obesity: a retrospective evaluation of tolerance and efficacy.

Background: One potential indication for intra-gastric balloon is weight reduction for mild to moderate obesity. The authors evaluated retrospectively the tolerance and efficacy of the BioEnterics intragastric balloon (BIB).

Methods: From February 1998 to July 2001, an intragastric balloon was placed under endoscopic control in 176 patients (mean BMI 31 kg/m(2)).

Long-term follow-up of patients with endoscopic treatment of sporadic adenomas of the papilla of vater.

Background And Study Aims: Knowledge about the long-term outcome of patients after endoscopic treatment of ampullary adenomas remains poor, although surgical series have suggested that the initial endoscopic evaluation of these diseases might overlook cancer foci developed in adenomas. The aim of this study was to evaluate retrospectively the long-term outcome in patients with ampullary adenomas treated endoscopically, with a focus on the possible development of cancer.

Patients And Methods: The study included 24 patients (median age 59 years, range 34 - 84) with macroscopically benign adenomas of the papilla of Vater treated using mainly laser photodestruction between 1983 and 1996.