The gastric balloon is a liquid or air filled silicone balloon which is introduced into the stomach by means of a gastroscopy. Its size ensures that a faster feeling of satiety during eating. A gastric balloon, however, is effective only with a simultaneous change in diet and lifestyle and will be removed after six months at the latest. Find out everything important to the gastric balloon here.
What is a gastric balloon?
The gastric balloon, in contrast to gastric banding and gastric reduction, is a non-operative measure for the treatment of obesity. He should help obese people to lose weight.
The effect of the gastric balloon is based on a simple principle: The balloon filled with liquid or air takes up so much space in the stomach that its wearer gets full faster and therefore eats less. Satiety is mainly due to the stretching of the stomach wall. The gastric balloon can only be a part of the therapy of obesity, because the lifestyle and the composition of the food play an important role.
The gastric balloon is made of a soft silicone that is filled with liquid or air. Used and removed again is the gastric balloon as part of a gastroscopy.
For whom a gastric balloon is suitable
Unlike the other weight loss procedures (gastric band, gastric stomach, gastric bypass, etc.), which are only used for very severe obesity, the gastric balloon can already be used by people with moderate overweight (body mass index between 28 and 40 kg / m2) are used. Most commonly, a gastric balloon is used in people weighing between 85 and 130 kilograms. In the case of very obese patients, the method is sometimes used to prepare a stomach reduction in order to reduce the weight in advance and thus reduce the risk of surgery.
For whom a gastric balloon is not suitable
For certain physical and mental illnesses, a gastric balloon should not be used (contraindications). These include previous operations, diseases or malformations of the stomach or esophagus, stomach ulcers (“ulcer”), and addictions such as alcohol or drug dependence. Even with severe eating disorders such as bulimia or other serious mental illness must be dispensed with a gastric balloon. Furthermore, this method is not approved for pregnant women. People who are permanently dependent on the use of anticoagulant drugs, can also receive no gastric balloon.
How is a gastric balloon used?
Before the gastric balloon is used, the esophagus and the stomach must be mirrored (esophagogastroscopy). This study serves to rule out pathological changes that speak against the onset of a gastric balloon. In gastroscopy, the doctor pushes a so-called endoscope through the mouth over the esophagus to the stomach. It has a light source and a camera. So the doctor can examine the esophagus and the stomach for pathological changes.
To insert the balloon, the doctor pulls back the endoscope and pushes the collapsed gastric balloon on a tube in the stomach. When the balloon reaches the stomach, the doctor uses the endoscope to check the correct position. Subsequently, the balloon is filled through the tube with about 400 to 700 milliliters of blue colored saline. Then the doctor removes the tube and controls again via the endoscope the correct placement of the balloon.
The procedure lasts an average of 20 to 30 minutes and takes place in light twilight sleep (sedation). He can be outpatient. Because of the anesthesia, the patient should not actively participate in road traffic.
Some patients suffer from bloating, nausea and vomiting after balloon loading. A hospital stay of about one to two days is then required to provide the patient with fluid through the vein.
How is the gastric balloon removed?
The gastric balloon is removed at the latest after six months to limit the risk of tearing of the balloon wall by persistent effect of gastric acidity and gastric movement. For gastric balloon removal again a gastroscopy is necessary. During surgery, the balloon is punctured, allowing the fluid to escape. As a result, the gastric balloon loses its firm consistency and can easily be pulled back through the esophagus. The entire procedure usually takes only a few minutes.
Effectiveness of a gastric balloon
The effectiveness of the gastric balloon can be very different individually. Realistic is a weight loss of about 10 to 25 kilograms. The weight loss is especially pronounced in the first three months.
The success of the purchase depends largely on how well the patient succeeds in maintaining a changed eating behavior at the same time. Who consumes a lot of sweet drinks or sweets, can even increase despite the gastric balloon. Overall, the effectiveness of the gastric balloon is significantly lower than that of the operative procedures.
side effects
Especially in the first days after insertion, the side effects of a Magenballsons can be significant. Typical are nausea, abdominal cramps and a pronounced feeling of fullness. These symptoms settle as soon as the stomach gets used to the foreign body. This is usually the case after about three to seven days. Even in the long term, some patients complain but a constant pressure or fullness, belching and heartburn. If the gastric balloon causes permanent problems, it should be removed prematurely.
Risks and complications
Like any medical procedure, the gastric balloon insert also carries certain risks. Specific risks include intramedullary injuries to the teeth, esophagus, or stomach. This is very rare.
What to do if a gastric balloon bursts?
Basically, there is also the risk that the balloon bursts. Then the blue-colored fluid escapes from the balloon and is absorbed into the blood via the mucous membrane. As a result, the urine turns rapidly blue. This blue color of the urine must pay attention to gastric balloon carrier, as it indicates a leak in the balloon.
A damaged gastric balloon must be removed immediately with a gastroscopy (endoscopically), as the collapsed balloon may otherwise cause intestinal obstruction. If you suspect a burst gastric balloon, you should contact your doctor immediately. If the balloon bursts at night, the emergency room of a hospital should be controlled.
Air-filled or fluid-filled gastric balloon?
The gastric balloon can be filled with either liquid or air. Some doctors see the air-filled variant for several reasons critical: First, a leak in the air-filled gastric balloon is not so fast, because the blue color of the urine is missing. This also increases the risk of a discharge of the balloon into the intestine and thus for intestinal obstruction. Perhaps the weight reduction in the air-filled balloon is worse, since it weighs only about 30 grams. The liquid-filled gastric balloon, however, has a dead weight of about 450 to 700 grams and thus provides for a faster satiety. Also important for air travelers: As gases expand at high altitude, you can not fly with an air-filled gas balloon.
Gastric balloon: cost
The cost of a gastric balloon differ depending on the treatment cost and depending on the doctor sometimes considerable. In general, the gastric balloon costs are in the range between 1500 and 4500 euros. Interested parties should pay attention not only to the price, but above all to the quality of treatment. This can often be estimated only through the exchange of experience with other patients, or through physician assessment portals. Also the personal impression, which one wins in the first discussion from the attending physician and the practice, should be included in the overall judgment.
Gastric balloon health insurance
The gastric balloon, as well as all surgical interventions for the treatment of obesity, so far no control benefit of the statutory health insurance. This means that the intervention is only paid for by the health insurance on request and only if certain criteria are met. Private patients should discuss the possibility of reimbursement in advance with their health insurance.
Self-payers should be aware that they are due to complications gastric balloon also have to bear the costs of their treatment.