title: An improved intragastric balloon procedure using a new balloon: preliminary analysis of safety and efficiency.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The authors developed a new intragastric balloon procedure with the objective of making it safer, faster, and less expensive than the established ones. The proposed procedure uses a new gastric balloon with technical improvements in the placement and removal procedures.
  
  
  METHODS
  From June 2006 to July 2007, 52 patients were submitted to the new treatment with the Silimed Gastric Balloon (SGB), as part of a multidisciplinary program involving clinical, psychological, and behavioral approaches.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The new placement and removal procedures of the SGB were effective and safe in all the cases. Due to simplicity and shortened duration of the procedures, all the patients left the outpatient clinic in less than 1 h after the placement or removal of the SGB. For the 14 patients who had completed the 6-month treatment, the initial mean weight, mean body mass index (BMI), and mean excess of weight (EW) were, respectively, 100.7 kg, 35.7 kg/m(2), and 30.0 kg. After the 6-month treatment, these values decreased significantly: 89.4 kg, 31.8 kg/m(2), and 19.6 kg.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preliminary data suggest that the procedure with the new balloon comes forth as a safe and effective alternative to the treatment of weight loss in patients with appropriate indication of use.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine (FCM), University of Pernambuco (UPE), Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil. gc@elogica.com.br.
authors.forename: Gustavo L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Department, Silimed Product Support Department, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cesar B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Barros
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine (FCM), University of Pernambuco (UPE), Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: Masaichi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Okazaki
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine (FCM), University of Pernambuco (UPE), Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: Moacir L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Novaes
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine (FCM), University of Pernambuco (UPE), Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: Pedro C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Albuquerque
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine (FCM), University of Pernambuco (UPE), Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: Nair C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine (FCM), University of Pernambuco (UPE), Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: Pedro Paulo C
authors.initials: PPC
authors.lastname: Albuquerque
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine (FCM), University of Pernambuco (UPE), Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: Chika
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wakiyama
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine (FCM), University of Pernambuco (UPE), Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thiago G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Vilaça
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine (FCM), University of Pernambuco (UPE), Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: José Sergio N
authors.initials: JSN
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine (FCM), University of Pernambuco (UPE), Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rapahel M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Coelho
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D050110:Bariatric Surgery / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D015905:Gastric Balloon; D005773:Gastroscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss; D055815:Young Adult