Intragastric balloon: another option for treatment of obesity and morbid obesity.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The BioEnterics Intragrastric Balloon (BIB, BioEnterics, Santa Barbara, CA) in association with restricted diet has been used for the treatment of obesity and morbid obesity. METHODOLOGY: Since March 1998, 349 BIB were placed in 303 obese and morbidly obese patients; 95 patients were male and 208 female; mean age was 41.5 years (19-70); mean weight was 118.8 Kg (67-229); mean BMI was 42 Kg/m2, % excess weight was 62.3% (4.6-216.3). The balloon was inserted and removed endoscopically under general anesthesia. Patients were given a balanced diet of 1000 Kcal/day. RESULTS: After 4 months of balloon treatment, the mean weight loss was 13.9 Kg and the mean reduction in BMI was 4.8 Kg/m2. Weight loss was greater in male patients. Weight loss was accompanied by an improvement of the diseases associated with obesity, in particular diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: The best indications for BIB were: morbidly obese (BMI >40) and super-obese patients (BMI >50) in preparation for bariatric operations; obese patients with BMI 35-40 with co-morbidity in preparation for bariatric surgery; obese patients with BMI 30-35 with a chronic disease otherwise unresolved; patients with BMI <30 only in a multidisciplinary approach.