Intragastric balloon placement in the treatment of overweight and obesity: Experience at a Mexican referral center

摘要

Introduction and aimIntragastric balloon therapy is a temporary, minimally invasive method for inducing weight loss. Any balloon with a volume of 400?ml induces satiety and delayed gastric emptying. The aim of the present study was to demonstrate its safety and efficacy.Materials and methodsWe analyzed the safety and effectiveness of balloon placement in relation to weight loss in 128 patients. Subgroups were compared through the Student’s t test, ANOVA test, and the chi-square test, depending on the type of variable and the number of groups evaluated. Statistical significance was set at a p?≤?0.05 to evaluate weight loss.ResultsMean weight loss after balloon therapy was 10.7?kg, with only 2 cases of complications due to oral feeding intolerance. Mean length of time with the balloon was 8 months. There were no complications after 6 months, but no further weight loss either (p?=?0.540). Final weight loss versus initial weight loss was significant (p?=?0.000). There was greater weight loss in the group that attended the bimonthly control appointments than in the group that did not: 12.7?kg vs. 7.26?kg (p?=?0.000).ConclusionsThe rates of the adverse events of intolerance and complications were very low in our study, compared with results in the literature (1.6% vs. 4.7% and 0% vs. 3%, respectively). Intragastric balloon placement had better results when the patients attended the control appointments. Intragastric balloon therapy is a safe and efficacious method for reducing weight in patients with overweight and obesity.