The intragastric balloon is a device designed to facilitate weight loss in patients with obesity. It is a silicone balloon which is inserted under endoscopic control and filled with about 600 cc of water and left freely floating in the gastric cavity. The ball, is partially filling the stomach and difficulty emptying, produces a reduction of hunger and the appearance of early satiety when eating.
The ball is placed on an outpatient basis, with light sedation and controlled under endoscopic control, introducing the ball and the endoscope through the oral cavity without practicing any type of surgery. The performance of the technique does not last more than 20 minutes and after 30 to 40 minutes the patient can go home. After 6 months, the ball will be removed endoscopically.
Afterwrods the patient will continue with dietary control by nutritionist for 6 months.
It is recommended to patients with a body mass index (BMI) above 30 and below this value, in very specific and individualized situations.
The results obtained with this system reach an average of between 18 and 25 kilos of weight lost during the time of permanence of the balloon.