Gastric Balloon | Prof. Dr. Haluk Ünalp

Gastric Balloon

 

WHAT IS GASTRIC BALLOON ?

Gastric balloon application is not a surgical procedure. In this application, a special balloon is used and the inside of this balloon placed in the stomach is inflated with 400-700 cc of liquid or air. The area occupied by the balloon in the stomach decreases the stomach volume and therefore the food intake rate decreases.

 

HOW IS IT APPLIED ?

The application is done endoscopically. As with endoscopy applications, the patient is put to sleep for a short time. Therefore, the patient does not feel the application, does not feel pain, there is no nausea or vomiting. The process time is approximately 10-15 minutes.

 

HOW LONG WILL I STAY AT THE HOSPITAL ?

After this procedure, patients are kept under surveillance for 4-5 hours and do not need to be hospitalized.

WHAT CAN HAPPEN AFTER THE APPLICATION ?

This balloon placed in the stomach can be evaluated as a foreign body and a reaction may occur in the stomach against the balloon. In other words, the stomach may contract and try to throw it out. For this reason, some complaints may occur for 2-3 days after the application, although not in everyone. These are: - Nausea, - Vomiting and - Cramp-style pains. These complaints are usually temporary and disappear after a few days. Surgical intervention is not required for the treatment of these complaints. Medical treatments and regulation of nutrition method are sufficient.

HOW LONG WILL THE BALLOON STAY?

The balloon is kept in the stomach for about 3-6 months and removed with a new endoscopic procedure.

HOW MUCH WEIGHT CAN I LOSE ?

With this 6-month balloon application, patients are expected to lose 25-85% of their excess weight. This rate of weight loss is considered as a successful application result.

 
 

WILL I LOSE WEIGHT ONLY BY BALLOON ?

No. After the application, calorie restriction should be made (1000-1200 Kcal per day) to enable the patient to lose weight. In addition to calorie restriction, it is very important to change the lifestyle of the patients in order for weight loss to be permanent.

IF I CANNOT GET ENOUGH WEIGHT IN 6 MONTHS WITH THE BALLOON, CAN I HAVE A BALLOON AGAIN ?

After six months of balloon application, if sufficient and desired weight loss cannot be achieved, the balloon can be placed again. If the balloon application needs to be repeated in this way, it is recommended that the stomach of the patients be rested for 1 month. Apart from that, if you gain weight again at a later time, the balloon can be applied again without waiting.

WHICH PATIENTS NEEDS GASTRIC BALLOON APPLICATION ?

* Patients who are 10-25 kilos overweight but cannot lose weight with diet

* If surgery cannot be performed due to the risks in the patient in patients with 30 or more weight and therefore requiring bariatric surgery.

* When it is aimed to reduce the risks of surgery for patients who have a very high body mass index and are asked to lose some weight before surgery

 

WHAT ARE THE RISKS? (Complications)

* Although rare, balloon intolerance (balloon is removed)

* Perforation of the balloon (in this case, methylene blue comes from the urine, the urine turns blue. In this case, the balloon is removed)

HOW WILL NUTRITION BE AFTER THE GASTRIC BALLOON ?

When gastric balloon application is not a surgical intervention and when combined with a healthy diet and exercise, it is one of the auxiliary methods preferred by patients in different groups in terms of supporting weight gain.

Immediately after the balloon application, our primary goal is to minimize the side effects such as nausea, vomiting and cramps caused by your stomach while trying to expel this foreign body by constricting with the right nutrition choices. While these effects can be reduced as much as possible with medical treatment, the right food choices will make you more comfortable and prevent your motivation from falling.

On the first day when the balloon is attached, you should drink clear liquid foods called clear liquid. You can drink milk, buttermilk, herbal tea, kefir or lean boiled light lemon squeezed clear meat or chicken broth. 2-3-4. days; After blending all the soups you cook with broth at home, you can drink it in 1 meal, provided that it does not exceed 300 cc.

5-6-7. You can start consuming mashed foods for days. After mashing the meat and vegetable dishes, you can eat them with yogurt.

You can switch to Solid foods as of week 1. A diet limitation of 1200 calories per day will allow you to lose weight and lose weight without getting fatigued.

* If there is vomiting after any meal, you should consume liquid food in your next two meals.

* You should consider the balloon period as a time given to educate yourself and aim to learn to restrict food, reduce portions and eat slowly during this period.

* The most important issue is that you should develop correct eating habits instead of eating habits that cause weight gain by changing behavior.

* In order to eat less and slowly, you should not consume fluids during meals and make a habit of taking a 1-minute break after each bite.

* You should wait for at least two hours to pass for a second meal after any meal, even small snacks.

* You should avoid adding sugar to your drinks.