Gastric Balloon Surgery

WHAT ARE THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH INTRAGASTRIC BALLOON?

Intragastric balloons are safely used worldwide in individuals with obesity or overweight. Complications are very rare and may be easily treated. Nausea, vomiting and cramps may occur during the first 2 or 3 days after the placement of the balloon. Certain medications are prescribed prior to hospital discharge to prevent such complications from occurring. Such symptoms disappear after the first 2 or 3 days.

The risk for a balloon rupture is not something like the term suggests. Actually the balloon does not rupture; however, the liquid inside the balloon may leak. The leak and deflation of the balloon may be easily detected by the blue color of the urine as the balloon is inflated with methylene blue. If you notice such color change, please contact your doctor immediately for the balloon to be checked endoscopically and removed if necessary.

Gastric balloon mortality and risk

The fatal risk of gastric balloon methods is below 0.1%. Increasing the quality of the devices we use in surgeries with developing technology, increasing experience has led to a decrease in these rates. As of now, the risk of death in balloon applications is considered to be less than four cases per 10000 deaths. In gastric surgery for obesity, this rate is 0.22%.  Although very rare, bleeding and puncture of the esophagus and stomach can occur when placing a balloon. At first, a feeling of discomfort in the stomach, nausea and/or vomiting may occur. Such conditions are controlled by medications given both orally and through a vein, and over time the patient adapts to the balloon. Again, fatigue due to a decrease in daily fluid intake in the first weeks can be weakness. As a result of the explosion of the balloon, it escapes into the intestines and can cause bowel obstruction that requires surgery.

How many pounds can be lost with gastric balloon?

The weight that will be given after applying a stomach balloon varies from person to person. A person who loses 3 pounds with a stomach balloon, as well as a person who loses 25 pounds. A person who loses 3 pounds is usually someone who does not make any effort and leaves all the expectations in the balloon and removes the balloon early. If you are regularly checked and apply one or more methods such as diet, sports and medication along with balloon application, people can easily lose 20 pounds. A factor determining this condition is the person’s weight when wearing a balloon. If a person wearing a balloon is 150 pounds, losing 20 pounds can be considered even less, while for someone with 80 pounds, it can be considered a weight loss above what is expected. It is very important that the stomach balloon stays in the stomach. People who apply balloons for periods that extend up to 7-8 months can naturally lose more weight. The type of balloon is partially effective in weight loss. If scientific studies indicate that there is no difference between liquid and air balloons in terms of weight loss, liquid balloons can easily achieve targeted weight loss if they are filled with 500 milliliters. A gastric balloon is not an obesity operation. As a completely non-surgical slimming method, it shows its effect by creating a decrease in stomach volume and increasing the feeling of satiety. This activity depends on the ability of the stomach balloon to suppress the production of the hormone Ghrelin, which causes a feeling of hunger inside the stomach.