title: Preoperative weight reduction using the intragastric balloon.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gastric balloon therapy (GBT) is a temporary, nonsurgical treatment for obesity. This retrospective study evaluates safety and efficacy of GBT in obese patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The BioEnterics. Intragastric Balloon (BIB) was endoscopically implanted into each patient's stomach and inflated with saline (450-750 ml). Extraction was planned after 6 months. Data from 190 patients receiving GBT were evaluated. Mean weight was 168.4 +/- 58.9 kg (range 76.5-310.0) and mean BMI was 55.6 +/- 17.5 kg/m2 (range 27.0-95.7).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean weight loss at the time of balloon removal was 21.2 +/- 14.0 kg (range 0-80.0). The mean BMI loss and EBL(Excess BMI Loss) were 7.2 +/- 4.9 kg/m2 (range 0-28.9) and 30.1 +/- 26.4% (0-184.4), respectively. The most substantial weight and BMI loss was observed in the most massively obese patients. Minor complications at implantation were encountered in 2 cases (1.1%) due to leakage of the balloon, and in 3 cases at explantation (1.6%). No mortality or major complications such as gastric perforation or ulcers occurred. Of the 190 patients, 76 received subsequent surgery (40.0%). Of those, 7 patients had a BMI < 50 kg/m2 while all other patients where super-obese (BMI > 50 kg/m2). 58 patients (30.5%) with a BMI > 60 kg/m2 which had an extraordinary high operation risk were able to receive subsequent surgical treatment because of a substantial weight loss and/or reduced comorbidity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GBT appears to be a safe, tolerable, and potentially effective procedure for the initial treatment of morbid obesity.
authors.affiliation: Center for Minimal-Invasive Surgery, Department of General and Bariatric Surgery, Krankenhaus Sachsenhausen, Frankfurt/M., Germany.
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Göttig
authors.forename: Rudolf A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Weiner
authors.forename: Markos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Daskalakis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D050110:Bariatric Surgery; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002404:Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D020878:Device Removal; D005260:Female; D015905:Gastric Balloon; D005773:Gastroscopy / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss; D055815:Young Adult