Gastric balloon to treat obesity: filled with air or fluid?

Background: Our aim was to study the efficacy and safety of different types of intragastric balloon in morbidly obese patients.

Patients And Methods: From 2005 to 2011, intragastric balloons were inserted endoscopically into 32 patients. Intragastric balloons were used in morbidly obese (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 35 kg/m(2) ) individuals who were non-responsive to 6-month medical therapy and diet. Balloons were endoscopically removed after 6 months.

Results: Thirty-six balloons were inserted in a total of 32 patients. Mean age of the patients was 37.28 ± 12.08 (17-64) years and mean height was 169.81 ± 8.17 (150-185) cm. Initial mean weight was 128.87 ± 23.31 kg and BMI was 45.26 ± 8.48 kg/m(2) . At month 6, mean bodyweight was 116.93 ± 23.18 and BMI was 40.96 ± 7.96 kg/m(2) (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, respectively). At the end of 6 months, while the excessweight loss (EWL) median was 13.0 kg, [interquartile range IQR: 5.0-16.0] and percent EWL median was 21.92, [IQR: 12.72-28.49] in the Heliosphere BAG patients, the EWL median was 19.0 kg, [IQR: 14.47-26.72] and the percent EWL median was 38.26, [IQR: 19.73-47.79] in the BioEnterics Intragastric Balloon patients (P = 0.006, P = 0.010, respectively for EWL median and percent EWL median). One patient died (3.1%) of cardiac arrest due to aspiration at day 13 after BIB placement.

Conclusion: Although not without risk, intragastric balloon placement is an effective method for weight loss. BioEnterics Intragastric Balloon is more effective in helping weight loss than the Heliosphere BAG balloon.