Gastric balloon

What is a gastric balloon?
Intragastric balloon is one of the surgical methods to treat obesity. In this method, a soft silicone bag (gastric balloon) enters the stomach through the mouth and is expanded by injecting normal saline or air into it. The balloon actually occupies a volume of the stomach and prevents the person from overeating and thus causes weight loss.

Note that using a gastric balloon is a short-term method and not permanent! After 6 months when the person gets used to his proper diet, the balloon is removed endoscopically.

Types of gastric balloon
Endball balloon (air-liquid mixed balloon)

With the ability to last up to 9 months and the ability to be filled with a mixture of liquid and air at the same time, which reduces the initial side effects including nausea and vomiting and pain, as a result, it becomes easier for the patient to bear it.

Spatz balloon

With the ability to last up to 1 year, one of the advantages of this type of balloon is its adjustment through endoscopy, which allows the doctor to first fill the balloon with a smaller volume of liquid and during 1 year, according to the patient's appetite, reduce its volume through endoscopy. and increase it, for this reason, the initial side effects including nausea and pain are minimized, and at the same time, the patient can increase its volume through endoscopy whenever he feels that his stomach has gotten used to the previous size of the balloon.

Adjustable balloon through the port

These types of balloons are filled with air, enter the stomach through endoscopy and can increase and decrease volume through a subcutaneous port. They do not cause nausea, vomiting and pain, and due to their long shelf life, they allow more weight loss. The doctor can increase or decrease the volume of the balloon based on the patient's tolerance and appetite.

The difference between liquid balloons and air balloons
In hot air balloons, due to their lightness, initial symptoms including pain and nausea are much milder. However, in terms of the amount of weight loss, it is possible that in liquid balloons, due to the heavier weight of the balloons, there will be a feeling of loss of appetite and ultimately weight loss.

Why is gastric balloon surgery recommended?
Placing a balloon inside your stomach will help you lose weight. Losing weight can reduce your risk of potentially serious weight-related problems, such as:

heart disease and stroke;
high blood pressure
type 2 diabetes;
Fatty Liver;
Gastric balloon and other weight loss procedures or surgery are usually performed after unsuccessful attempts to lose weight by improving your diet and exercise habits.

Measures before the balloon operation
Blood tests include:

display of blood cells;
blood sugar;
parasite test;
Blood sodium and potassium
serum creatinine;
coagulation tests;
albumin;
blood cholesterol and triglycerides;
Heart tests include:

ECG;
X-ray photo of the chest;
lung tests in patients with lung diseases;
Ultrasound of the abdomen
Psychological tests:

Esophageal endoscopy;
Stomach endoscopy;
Examining the H pylori microbe;

Advantages of using gastric balloon
One of the great advantages of gastric balloon is avoiding surgery and its possible risks. Because it only takes 15 minutes, you only need a mild sedative and you'll be discharged the same day. These cases indicate the fact that gastric balloon will be cheaper than auction in many ways. But the gastric balloon is temporary and is actually a good backup for when you decide to lose weight and become more active.

Patients who perform gastric balloon surgery can lose 20-30% of their weight. Although the amount of weight loss is different for each person according to their circumstances.

Gastric balloon candidates:
Very obese patients who have obesity complications such as shortness of breath during sleep, diabetes and high blood pressure.
People who have a BMI between 30-35 and do not accept surgery.
Patients who are not suitable for gastric and intestinal surgery.
Patients who are extremely obese and need to place a balloon before surgery to reduce the risks of anesthesia and surgery. (BMI above 50)

What care should be taken after the operation?
After placing the balloon in the stomach, be sure to visit your doctor regularly. Balloon weight loss has some subtleties that patients may be unaware of. But in the subsequent visits and referrals and the guidance of the gastroenterologist as well as the nutritionist, they will definitely get a better result.

Your position during sleep and rest:

Be sure to sleep on your left shoulder and avoid sleeping in an arched position, on your right shoulder, or on your palm.
When sleeping on your left shoulder, you should keep your head slightly above the body level to feel more comfortable.
Feeding method:

Eat light meals during the first month.
Eat slowly, when eating solid food, it is necessary to use small bites and chew the bite completely.
Do not drink liquids during meals, but consume approximately 10 glasses of water throughout the day. Always leave an hour between food and drink.
Avoid carbonated liquids.
Avoid drinking alcoholic beverages, coffee, chocolate drinks, artificial juice, soft drinks, and even its diet type.
Divide meals into three main meals. Do not eat anything between meals.
Eat meat, fish or chicken (without bones).
Vegetables and fruits are consumed in all meals and according to the season, use as many different types as possible.
Do not lie down after eating.