title: Short-term outcomes of the new intragastric balloon End-Ball®for treatment of obesity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intragastric balloons (IGBs) have been successfully used to treat obesity for the last 18 years. These balloons are made of different materials and filled with either air or saline. It seems that balloons filled with saline result in more effective weight loss, but are associated with worse tolerance after implantation. In contrast, balloons filled with air are associated with excellent tolerance, but result in less effective weight loss.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To report the early safety and effectiveness results of the End-Ball®balloon and to encourage discussions on how to best use this new-generation IGB for endoscopic weight loss management.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty obese patients (mean age: 40.5 years; mean body mass index: 34.8 kg/m2) were included in a 6-month study. Balloons were inflated with 300 ml of saline containing 5 ml of methylene blue and 300 cm3of air.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No serious adverse events occurred during treatment. Patients experienced varying degrees of nausea, vomiting (mean: 3.7 times the first day), and abdominal pain after implantation. Six months (23-29 weeks) after End-Ball®balloon insertion, we observed a significant decrease in body weight (13.9 ±5.1 kg) and percent excess weight loss (37.9 ±12.9%). We also found a significant decrease in the levels of glycated hemoglobin (p < 0.001), C-peptide (p < 0.002), and triacylglycerols (p < 0.001) and an increase in the concentration of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p < 0.025).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The End-Ball®IGB is a safe and effective treatment for morbid obesity, with positive effects on weight loss and saccharide metabolism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic; Department of Clinical Studies, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Buzga
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Studies, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic; Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Tomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kupka
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Ltd, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Milan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Siroky
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Abawi Ltd, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
authors.forename: Habib
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Narwan
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Studies, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic; Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Evzen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Machytka
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Studies, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Pavol
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Holeczy
authors.affiliation: Institute of Laboratory Diagnostics, University Hospital Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Zdeněk
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Švagera
keywords: End-Ball®; intragastric balloon; obesity; safety; weight loss