Six intragastric balloons: Which to choose?

Abstract

Endoscopically placed intragastric balloons (IGBs) have played a significant role in obesity treatment over the last 30 years, successfully bridging the gap between lifestyle modification/pharmacotherapy and bariatric surgery. Since they provide a continuous sensation of satiety that helps the ingestion of smaller portions of food, facilitating maintenance of a low-calorie diet, they have generally been considered an effective and reversible, less invasive, non-surgical procedure for weight loss. However, some studies indicate that balloons have limited sustainable effectiveness for the vast majority attempting such therapy, resulting in a return to the previous weight after balloon removal. In this review we try to summarize the pros and cons of various balloon types, to guide decision making for both the physician and the obese individual looking for effective treatment. We analyzed the six most commonly used IGBs, namely the liquid-filled balloons Orbera, Spatz3, ReShape Duo and Elipse, and the gas-filled Heliosphere and Obalon - also including comments on the adjustable Spatz3, and the swallowable Obalon and Elipse - to optimize the choice for maximum efficacy and safety.

Gastroscope-assisted laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy: A case report with an unexpected old deflated intragastric balloon

“…After decades of development, IGB devices are now more effective, safe, and less traumatic than ever before while maintaining the benefits of reversibility and without altering the anatomy of the gastrointestinal system [12] . IGBs are associated with a lower mortality (<1%), long-lasting, effective excess weight loss (EWL) percentage greater than 50%, fewer adverse effects, reversible and reproducible, and good quality of life [13] . However, Italian research revealed that BioEnterics intragastric balloon (BIB®) therapy for 14 months provided greater results with higher weight reduction than BIB® in situ within 6 months without complications [14] .…”

“…Here, our patient had a silicone saline balloon which should stay for 6 months inside the stomach, as suggested earlier by Buzga et al [15] . These spherical IGBs allow the addition or removal of saline in situ, allowing patients to customize their intragastric volume to fit their weight loss goals and preferences [13] .…”

Mapping of Intragastric Balloon Use: a Guide to the Activity of Institutions Through Bibliometry

“…Moreover, the detailed analysis of related publications covering two decades could help to identify changes occurring in scienti c trends over this period [24]. It has thus become clear that many centers with longterm experience with the Orbera balloon consider it trustworthy and reliable, and are disinclined to change just for the sake of a study [4]. On the other hand, new physicians in this era, or new markets, as big as the USA or as small as the Czech Republic, are trying the more modern balloons.…”

“…The advantageous results of the method, its simplicity, and the relatively low cost of the device, are clearly re ected not only in its growing worldwide popularity, but mainly in the expansion of technological research towards improvement of the "classic" uid-lled balloon, which, for more than a decade, has been the absolute status [4] and has the most historical data supporting its use.…”

İntragastrik Balon ve Botulinum Toksin Enjeksiyonunun Kilo Kaybı Üzerine Kısa Dönem Etkilerinin Karşılaştırılması

“…Obesity is a significant threat to human health owing to the high prevalence of morbidity and mortality caused by the cdition itself and associated comorbidities [1]. Current guidelines suggest bariatric surgery as the most potent treatment tool for patients with class-3 obesity or those with class-2 obesity compounded by an obesity-related comorbidity [2][3][4].…”