title: Green urine after intragastric balloon placement for the treatment of morbid obesity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The intragastric balloon is filled with saline and methylene blue dye, to detect balloon deflation early and prevent bowel obstruction, by monitoring the patient's urine for changes in color.
  
  
  METHODS
  An intragastric balloon filled with 590 ml of saline plus 10 ml of methylene blue was endoscopically placed under sedation in a 22-year-old man with morbid obesity (BMI 42 kg/m2). 3 days later, the patient's urine changed to dark green, and, suspecting a leaking balloon, endoscopy was repeated under sedation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No signs of balloon deflation were seen, and the urine returned to normal color. The next day, the urine turned green again. 7 days later, the urine discoloration finally disappeared.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Propofol, a sedative commonly used by anesthesiologists during endoscopic procedures, is known to have several side-effects, and urine discoloration is one of them, albeit rare. This benign side-effect must be known to obesity surgeons to avoid pointless medical expenditure, unnecessary balloon removal and distress for patients and clinicians.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, 3rd Clinic of General Surgery, University of Padua, Italy. bernante@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bernante
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Francini
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zangrandi
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Menegon
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Toniato
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Feltracco
authors.forename: Maria Rosa
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Pelizzo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods; D015905:Gastric Balloon / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007202:Indicators and Reagents / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008751:Methylene Blue / Q000009:adverse effects; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000628:therapy; D015742:Propofol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014555:Urination Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D014556:Urine / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D008751:Methylene Blue; D015742:Propofol