Three years experience with the new intragastric balloon, and a preoperative test for success with restrictive surgery.
BACKGROUND
The BioEnterics Intragastric Balloon (BIB) is a smooth, spherical, saline-filled, silicone elastomer with a black radiopaque filling valve, intended to induce weight loss by limiting food consumption. This can be considered a "restrictive" procedure, and by using this balloon, we can assess the patient's eligibility for a restrictive surgical procedure (the BIB-Test).


METHODS
From May 1997 to May 2000, 87 BIB were inserted in 77 moderately to severely obese patients (4 BIB in 1 patient, 2 BIB in 7 patients). 64 patients completed the treatment. Out of these, 18 (16 female, 2 male) underwent laparoscopic gastric banding after BIB removal.


RESULTS
After the treatment (3-6 months), weight loss results were as follows: WL 14.3 kg, %EWL 23.5 and loss in BMI 5.3. 12 patients after the preliminary BIB, have been followed > or = 6 months after gastric banding, and have significant further weight loss.


CONCLUSIONS
BIB appears to have good results. A supervised nutritional and behavioral regimen is mandatory. The balloon may be indicated to: 1) induce weight loss in patients whose obesity is not severe enough to warrant surgery; 2) reduce the surgical risk in those who are massively obese; 3) select patients for gastric restrictive surgery if they lose weight with the balloon. The data showed that patients who had good results with the BIB (positive BIB-Test) are still losing weight after subsequent gastric banding.
Loffredo
A
A
University Federico II, General and Oncological Surgery, Naples, Italy. aloffy@hotmail.com
Cappuccio
M
M
De Luca
M
M
de Werra
C
C
Galloro
G
G
Naddeo
M
M
Forestieri
P
P
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015391:Gastroplasty; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000601:surgery*; D019736:Prostheses and Implants