Intragastric balloon left in the stomach for more than a year: two case reports.
OBJECTIVE
Intragastric balloon (IGB) is often used to achieve short-term weight reduction in morbidly obese patients. It is placed endoscopically for a 6-month-period either in the pre-bariatric surgery setting and also in cases where no bariatric surgery is planned. Prolonged implantation may be accompanied by serious complications.


METHODS
We herein report two cases of extraction of intact IGBs long time after their placement.


CONCLUSIONS
Although no adverse events were observed, adherence to manufacturers' recommendations is definitely suggested.
Hepatogastroenterology Unit, 2nd Department of Internal Medicine-Propaedeutic, Attikon University General Hospital, Medical School, University of Athens, Haidari, Greece. athsioulas@yahoo.gr
Athanasios D
AD
Sioulas
Dimitrios
D
Polymeros
Anastasia
A
Kourikou
Ioannis S
IS
Papanikolaou
Konstantinos
K
Triantafyllou
D050110:Bariatric Surgery / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005547:Foreign Bodies; D015905:Gastric Balloon; D005773:Gastroscopy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D013270:Stomach / Q000601:surgery*; D015431:Weight Loss