STOMACH BALLOON.

The stomach balloon application, which is one of the methods used in the treatment of obesity, is a method in which a balloon with 600-700 cc volume is placed inside the stomach to reduce the stomach volume and to make patients’ diet adaptation easier. This method is especially preferred by  the patients who do not want a surgery, whose body/mass index is not suitable for surgery and the patients who want to lose weight or patients with super morbid obesity, during the stage of preparation for a surgery.

Gastroscopy (stomach endoscopy) must be applied to the patients before the process of stomach balloon, and if any, the stomach diseases should be cured first.

Stomach balloon application is absolutely a non-operative method, and the balloon is just placed and removed endoscopically. The process is carried out during the state of sleep that is called sedation, and the patients do not feel anything during the process.

Depending on brand, the stomach balloon is generally a silicone balloon with 600-700 cc volume. The silicone balloon is deflated before the process, and the silicone balloon is swallowed from the mouth and sent to the stomach. By using the endoscope, the balloon is inflated with 600-700 cc air or the isotonic painted with methylene blue. The balloon location is checked and the process is ended. The process takes approximately 20 minutes and the patient can go home after the process.

Because of its nature, the stomach wants to transfer the content to the small intestine or remove it by vomiting. Therefore there might be some complaints during the first week (especially the first three days) after the process such as nausea, vomiting or stomach pain that extends to the back. During these periods the patients should be supported by medications taken from the mouth or intravenous serum therapy. The patients should continue the process after this problematic period with the help of dieticians.

The balloon stays in the stomach for approximately 8-9 months and it is removed at the end of this process endoscopically (without surgery).

The stomach balloon application is a method with higher failure rates when compared to surgical methods. There is a risk that the lost weight can be taken back especially after the balloon is removed. It is because the balloon application is a patient-dependent method when compared to the surgical method. The balloon application’s purpose is to decrease the stomach volume temporarily, so that the patents can have a new dietary habit. The failure is observed only on the patients who cannot get a new dietary habit or who return to their old dietary habit.