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

Introduction and aim: Intragastric 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 methods: We 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 <= .05 to evaluate weight loss. Results: Mean 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 6months, but no further weight loss either (P = .540). Final weight loss versus initial weight loss was significant (P = .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 = .000). Conclusions: The 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. Published by Masson Doyma Mexico S.A. on behalf of Asociacian Mexicana de Gastroenterologa.