Obesity is a serious problem which has to be controlled or removed by all means possible. There are some surgical and non-surgical procedures that can be used to get rid of the excess weight. Gastric balloon is a non-surgical procedure with the least possible side effects.
Why Gastric Balloon?
If a obese patient does not like ‘going under the knife’ to reduce the obesity, then gastric balloon procedure can be used to reduce the weight with less side effects. It is very effective procedure of all the non-surgical procedures and it takes an hour or two for the entire procedure.
What is Gastric Balloon?
As the name tells, the procedure uses a flexible and thin silicone balloon which will be filled with air or saline solution. The balloon is placed in the stomach in a deflated state via the endoscopic tube, it is inflated using an external catheter. Once the balloon is filled, it gives fullness feeling before you reach the maximum limit of food intake. The balloon remains for a maximum of six months in the stomach. The balloon is made of soft and durable material, and each balloon is checked for leaks before the procedure. BIB (BioEnterics Intragastric Balloon), is the most popular balloon used by many hospitals and clinics.
Gastric Balloon Procedure
- The is is treated as a day case, and it is done by a specialist Gastroenterologist.
- A light dose of sedative is given for relaxing and a local anaesthetic shot is given to numb throat area, for making it easy to swallow the endoscope.
- Once the specialist checks the stomach with an endoscope, a deflated balloon is inserted in to the tube and placed in the stomach.
- A tiny catheter that is attached to the balloon is used to fill the balloon, once it is in place. When the balloon is filled the catheter is pulled off gently, this seals the balloon.
- A colored dye is added in the balloon, which flushes out of the digestive system if there is any burst or leakage in the balloon.
- Once the balloon is floating in the stomach, the endoscope is pulled out gently.
- The whole procedure takes around 30 minutes
