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Gastric Balloon Treatment
Relevant information about Gastric Balloon Treatment.
- What does the treatment consist on
Gastric Balloon is a non surgical treatment designed to help obese individuals losing weight. During the treatment a balloon made of a soft and pliable elastomer material is swallowed in a small, deflated form. The existence of this device inside the stomach generates a feeling of fullness, which limitates the amount of food eaten by the treated individual.
- Which problems does the treatment solve
Gastric Balloon surgery is one of the possible treatments for obesity. Obesity is a condition in which excess body fat has accumulated in an individual, causing adverse effects on health. An individual is considered obese when his body mass index is greater than 30 kg/m2. Various diseases are associated with obesity, particularly heart disease, type 2 diabetes, breathing difficulties during sleep, certain types of cancer and osteoarthritis. These problems usually greatly reduce life expectancy of an obese individual.
Obesity tends to be caused by a combination of excessive dietary calories, lack of physical activity and genetic susceptibility. However in a few cases it may be caused by endocrine disorders, medications or psychiatric illness.
- How is the treatment performed
Gastric Balloon Treatment begins with the patient being put in a sitting position. Then the surgeon applies a topical anesthetic spray to numb the throat. This is done in order to help swallowing the balloon device. Next, the patient swallows the balloon in a deflated form. This process may take some minutes because the size of the balloon in its deflated form continues to be bigger than the usual things that the throat is used to swallow. After this, the surgeon uses an endoscopic camera to check the exact placement of the balloon inside the stomach. Once the balloon has been located, it is filled with 400 to 700 ml of sterile solution through a small catheter that has been previously attached to the entrance of the balloon. After filling the balloon, the catheter is gently removed by pulling on the external end. The Gastric Balloon device has a self sealing valve that keeps the saline solution from leaking into the stomach. Also, when the balloon is full, it becomes too large to pass outside the stomach. It will float freely inside of it.
The balloon is usually removed in the same way it was placed, via the mouth. Prior to removal, the surgeon will give the patient a muscle relaxant. Then, anesthetic will be applied to numb the throat. Using the endoscopic camera, a catheter will be introduced through the mouth and into the stomach. The balloon will then be punctured and deflated. After the balloon is deflated it can be grasped and removed.
- Anesthesia: The procedure is usually done under local anesthesia; this means that the patient is awake during the procedure. Local anesthesia sedates only the zone treated, in this case the throat, in order to eliminate pain during the procedure. Gastric Balloon Treatment usually uses an anesthetic spray to sedate the throat.
- Surgery length: The treatment is not a lengthy one, usually taking from 20 to 30 minutes.
- How is the post-treatment process
After the procedure the patient is usually able to leave the hospital the following day. During the first week following the gastric balloon surgery, a liquid diet will be prescribed with an increase of water intake. After the first week has passed, a meal program will be provided to start eating solids. The meal program will consist of calorie restrictions to help the patient get started with the weight loss plan. For the next six months, a diet program specifically designed for his special condition will be followed. This type of diet programs usually focus on lifestyle changes that will help the patient maintain weight loss later on when he doesn’t have the gastric balloon in his stomach.
There are three main possible complications. Injury to the esophagus or stomach is the first and most complex of them. This can happen whether by direct contact with the instruments used to place the balloon, by the balloon itself or as a result of increased acid production by the stomach of injury to the lining of the digestive tract. This could possibly lead to ulcer formation, pain, bleeding and perforation. Perforation is a serious problem which would normally require emergency surgery and could be fatal especially in obese patients. Bacterial growth is the second complication and may occur when the fluid that fills the balloon is released during the removal of the balloon. If there was significant bacterial growth in the fluid, the release can cause infection, cramps and diarrhea. The third complication is intestinal obstruction. It happens if the balloon leaks and deflates, finally becoming lodged in the intestine, causing an obstruction. This may require a surgical removal of the balloon.
- What does the treatment do
The treatment generates a sensation of fullness. This is helpful after the food intake begins to be reduced during the diet.
- What does the treatment not do
The treatment does not guarantee significant loss of weight if it is done without a proper alimentary program.
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