A gastric balloon is a silicone balloon filled with a liquid or air that doctors insert into the stomach. It ensures that a feeling of fullness occurs more quickly during food intake.
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The balloon is used as a weight loss aid for overweight people. Doctors remove it after six months.
In contrast to other treatments for overweight patients(gastric sleeve or gastric bypass), the gastric balloon is a non-surgical method.
The gastric balloon is particularly suitable for patients with a BMI between 35 and 40 @ natallia /AdobeStock
The gastric balloon is only used for moderately overweight patients.
Not every patient is suitable for this type of treatment. The following groups are not suitable for treatment with a gastric balloon :
Before the patient receives a gastric balloon, the doctor carries out various examinations.
These include a gastroscopy. During the gastroscopy, the doctor inserts an endoscope through the mouth via the oesophagus into the stomach. The endoscope contains a light and a camera. This allows the doctor to examine the oesophagus and stomach for pathological changes.
To insert the balloon, the doctor removes the endoscope and then pushes the folded gastric balloon into the stomach. The doctor then uses the endoscope to check whether the balloon is in the right place.
He then fills the balloon with 400 to 700 milliliters of blue-colored saline solution. Air is also possible.
After filling, the doctor removes the tube. Finally, he checks the position of the balloon again with the endoscope.
The procedure takes around 20 to 30 minutes in total and is performed under light sedation. The procedure can be performed on an outpatient basis, but the patient should not actively participate in road traffic afterwards.
The balloon permanently fills part of the stomach @ Artemida-psy /AdobeStock
In rare cases, the endoscope may cause injury to teeth, stomach or oesophagus during the procedure.
Particularly in the days following insertion of the balloon, there may be severe side effects.
The body first has to get used to the foreign body. The following reactions may therefore occur:
The patient's body usually gets used to the balloon within three to seven days. If the symptoms persist, you should have the gastric balloon removed again.
There is also a risk of the gastric balloon bursting or tearing. If this happens, the balloon can cause an intestinal obstruction, which you must have treated immediately in hospital.
This is why doctors nowadays usually fill the balloon with blue-colored saline solution instead of air. If the balloon bursts, the saline solution escapes and the liquid colors the urine blue. This allows patients to recognize immediately if there is a leak in the balloon. Doctors can remove the balloon before a bowel obstruction occurs.
With an air-filled balloon, there are no signs of a leak, so the risk of intestinal obstruction is higher.
Doctors remove the gastric balloon after six months at the latest. This minimizes the risk of the balloon rupturing. This can be caused by the effects of stomach acid and stomach movements.
To remove the gastric balloon, doctors perform another gastroscopy. They puncture the balloon so that the fluid or air can escape.
As soon as the balloon is empty again, they pull it through the oesophagus and remove it. The procedure usually only takes a few minutes.
How effective a gastric balloon is depends on the patient. As it is only a weight loss aid, the patient must also change their diet and lifestyle.
There will be no weight loss with a gastric balloon if the patient continues to eat sugary sodas and fast food.
For this reason, accompanying nutritional advice can be useful. Regular exercise by the patient maximizes the effectiveness of this method.
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Competent nutritional advice and exercise are essential components after treatment @ Kittiphan /AdobeStock
Once the gastric balloon has been removed, it is entirely up to the patient to maintain the reduced weight. In order to avoid weight gain, patients must stick to their new eating habits even after the balloon has been removed. If he returns to his old eating habits, he will quickly gain weight again.
The cost of a gastric balloon can vary greatly. They depend on the treatment required and the doctor treating the patient. A gastric balloon is not covered by health insurance. Only under certain conditions will the health insurance fund cover the costs.
When choosing a treatment, you should not only pay attention to the price, but also to the quality of the treatment. Talk to other patients or use doctor rating portals.
Please note that you not only pay for the procedure itself, but also the costs for possible complications.
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