Gastric Balloon

WHAT IS THE GASTRIC BALLOON PROCEDURE?

The purpose of the gastric balloon procedure is to restrict food intake by placing a balloon filled with water endoscopically into the patient's stomach for him/her to lose weight by this procedure. Although it is a very simple method, it is a procedure that needs caution as it severely restricts food intake, but does not create a change in the feeling of hunger of the patients. Although it is a method preferred for the group of patients, which is generally called as super obese, it is not classified as surgery. It is seen as a short and easy procedure effective for a while since a balloon is placed in the stomach of the patients and this is performed under sedation, that is, while being half asleep.  The gastric balloon procedure is performed with the aim of losing some weight beforehand particularly if the patients are to undergo an extra bariatric surgery procedure in the future.

HOW IS THE WEIGHT LOSS AND DIET PROCESS IN THE GASTRIC BALLOON PROCEDURE?

This procedure is generally preferred for people who have difficulty in following a diet or who cannot gain healthy eating habits despite the diet they follow. Although the gastric balloon is not a surgical operation, it is not a procedure that alone helps or provides weight loss. Exercise and diet must be done along with it During the progress of the procedure, patients have time to make their diets healthy and get used to it, as well as to bring an order to their daily lives by doing exercise.

HOW MUCH WEIGHT CAN BE LOST WITH THE GASTRIC BALLOON?

The factors that affect the weight that can be lost after the gastric balloon procedure include many criteria such as the age, co-morbidities and initial weight of the patient. Although the weight to be lost varies depending on such criteria, it is between 10 to 20 kg on average.  It is crucial to continue the diet and exercise program after the gastric balloon is removed in order for you not to gain weight again.

Studies have shown that an average of 15 to 20% of total body weight can be lost through a gastric balloon procedure.

IN WHOM CAN THE GASTRIC BALLOON PROCEDURE PERFORMED?

In the gastric balloon procedure, which is known to be preferred by many patients who have a body mass index of around 27 to 35, is not eligible for any other obesity surgery and want to lose weight in a healthy way, how long the gastric balloon will be used is decided after the total body weight and body mass index of the patient are calculated, following which the procedure is performed. Many researches and studies have shown that patients can lose up to 20% of their body weight after this procedure. Gastric balloon is frequently preferred because it provides a very high amount of weight loss while introducing many habits that will increase the life standards of the patients. While the performance of the procedure takes a very short time, it is known that there is no need to stay in the hospital for long periods after the procedure. Patients are expected to recover within 1 hour after the procedure, unless there is an extra situation or complication. Although the recovery of the patients is monitored by our physicians, this period can be extended if deemed necessary.

HOW IS THE GASTRIC BALLOON PROCEDURE PERFORMED?

Gastric balloon procedure is not a surgical operation, it is a procedure performed by entering the stomach through the mouth without any incision. Standard gastric balloons are placed endoscopically under light sedation and are removed from your stomach endoscopically when their time expires. The ellipse gastric balloon, which is a type of gastric balloon that, in recent years, makes the placement easier and eliminates more risks, is also one of the quite frequently used methods of bariatric treatment. This type of gastric balloon, which we call the Swallowable Gastric Balloon, is applied by swallowing with water and is excreted from the body naturally when it expires. This new generation swallowable gastric balloon, which does not require endoscopy, anesthesia and removal, has the same effectiveness as other gastric balloons.

In the standard gastric balloon procedure, the balloon is placed into the stomach endoscopically, if it is determined that there is no obstacle for the placement, after examining the stomach with endoscopy. The balloon is inflated with a methylene blue liquid of up to 400 to 700 ml. How much the gastric balloon is inflated depends on the type of balloon and the volume of the stomach. The inflated balloon is left in the stomach and the procedure is completed by making sure that it is in the desired position. Endoscopic placement of gastric balloon takes about 15 to 20 minutes.

And the swallowable gastric balloon procedure is as follows:  The gastric balloon in the form of a capsule is swallowed with water by the patient as if he/she swallowed a pill.  X-rays are taken to confirm that the balloon is in the correct position. Then, the gastric balloon is inflated with water by our physicians with the help of the catheter at the end of the capsule. Then, our physicians pull the catheter out of your mouth and the proceudre is finished. Gastric balloon application, which is swallowed with water, takes 10 to 15 minutes.

TYPES OF GASTRIC BALLOON:

6-Month Endoscopic Gastric Balloon: The 6-month gastric balloon is a gastric balloon that remains in your stomach for 6 months, as the name implies.  It is applied endoscopically and removed from your stomach after 6 months again endoscopically, and an average weight loss of 10 to 20 kilograms can be achieved in 6 months varying from patient to patient.  For patients with a body mass index of 27 to 40, a 6-month gastric balloon is generally considered as the ideal option after a detailed examination performed by our physicians.

1-Year Endoscopic Gastric Balloon: It is the type of gastric balloon that remains in the stomach for a period of 1 year. It is placed in the stomach using endoscopic methods, by which it is taken from the stomach at the end of 1 year.  The body mass index of the person should be 27 and above for the 1-year gastric balloon procedure, which is ideal for patients who have more weight to lose than the weight that can be lost with 6-month gastric balloon.

Swallowable Gastric Balloon: Swallowable gastric balloon have differences from other gastric balloons in terms of placement.  These gastric balloons in the form of capsules which do not require endoscopy are administered by swallowing with water like a pill and usually remain in the stomach for 4 months. At the end of four months, its contents are discharged spontaneously and are excreted from the body without need for being removed. The patients can lose about 15 to 20 kg through the swallowable gastric balloon, which is generally preferred by the patients who are afraid of surgical and endoscopic methods. For this type of gastric balloon, the Body Mass Index should be between 27 and 40.

PREPARATION STAGE BEFORE THE GASTRIC BALLOON PROCEDURE

Although our physicians will inform you in detail before the procedure, what are required from the patients before the gastric balloon procedure are, in general terms, fasting for 12 hours before the procedure with the last 6 hours with no fluid intake. No aspirin and/or similar blood thinners should have been used within the last 1 week.

THE HOSPITAL STAY  AFTER THE GASTRIC BALLOON PROCEDURE

Since, for the endoscopic gastric balloons, the procedure is performed under anesthesia, we recommend that you stay in the hospital for about 1 hour after the gastric balloon is placed. This is not the case for those who have a swallowable gastric balloon.

RETURN TO WORK AFTER THE GASTRIC BALLOON PROCEDURE

You will be discharged on the same day after the procedure. While the time to return to work varies depending on the patient's adaptation to the balloon, it is about 1 to 3 days.

WHAT ARE THE COMPLAINTS THAT MAY OCCUR AFTER THE GASTRIC BALLOON PROCEDURE?

Although the complaints settings are generally the same, the severity or number of complaints may vary from patient to the patient. While many patients report cramps and nausea, it is also known that some patients usually complain of contractions and an uncomfortable feeling after the gastric balloon procedure. Although the overall success of the procedure is around 90%, in some cases, the patient's body may reject the balloon even though there is no obstacle for the placement of the balloon. In the event of such a rejection, patients are provided with supportive treatments. While it is not common, the balloon can be removed in cases where the patient's body does not accept the balloon or drug treatments do not work.

WHEN DOES NAUSEA AND CRAMP GO AFTER THE GASTRIC BALLOON PROCEDURE?

Complaints such as nausea, vomiting, and spasms after gastric balloon may persist for up to a week, but in the majority of patients, they go away within two to three days.

IS AN ADDITIONAL PROCEDURE NEEDED AFTER THE GASTRIC BALLOON PROCEDURE?

The balloon should be removed from the stomach after 6 months or 1 year depending on the type of it.  No additional procedure is required for swallowed gastric balloon. At the end of 4 months, it is naturally excreted from the body.

Gastric balloon is removed endoscopically, accompanied by anesthesia, as when it is placed. The contents of the inflated balloon are emptied first and then the balloon is taken out with the help of an endoscope. This process takes about 15 to 20 minutes and the patients are discharged after being hosted in our hospital for 1 hour after the procedure as anesthesia is used during the procedure.

TO WHOM IS THE GASTRIC BALLOON PROCEDURE NOT APPLIED?

Gastric balloon is generally not applied to those who have certain gastric diseases, are pregnant, previously had sleeve gastrectomy, are on long-term cortisone use, are under cancer treatment or have recent undergone cancer treatment. In spite of this, in patients with gastric diseases, the patients are given the necessary treatment before the gastric balloon application, after which gastric balloon procedure can be performed. Likewise, after the cancer treatment, a gastric balloon application can be decided with the oncologist following the patient.

WHAT IS THE SUITABLE AGE RANGE FOR GASTRIC BALLOON?

Gastric balloon can be placed in individuals between the ages of 18 to 65. If gastric balloon application is deemed necessary in people under the age of 18, it can be done with the consent of a pediatric endocrinologist and the parents.

WHAT SHOULD THOSE WHO HAD GASTRIC BALLOON TO CONSIDER?

After having a gastric balloon, there is almost no problem that you may experience in your daily life due to the balloon. You can continue your normal life, there will be no change in your life except for your eating habits. We just recommend that you rest, avoid heavy work and intense exercises in the first days of the adaptation period, even if you do not feel any discomfort.  Afterwards, you can freely do any activity including sports, exercise, high-tempo work, sexual activity or any other activity etc.

In terms of nutrition, you should stay away from acidic drinks and alcohol. In addition to being rich in calories, they can also cause reflux. In addition, you should comply with your diet as much as possible and make sure that you can take the vitamins and minerals that your body needs in sufficient amounts.  Our goal should not only be to lose weight, but also to lose weight in a healthy way and to gain healthy eating habits.