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Intragastric Balloons: Indications, Options, Outcomes

  • Bariatric Surgery (A. Ghaferi, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Surgery Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Introduction

Intragastric balloons (IGBs) have increased in popularity within the continuum of care for obesity. The FDA has approved 3 different devices with similar mechanisms of action and approved treatment durations. IGBs can offer help with weight loss to individuals with BMI 30–40 kg/m2 who do not qualify for bariatric surgery or who do not wish to undergo a surgical procedure for weight loss.

Methods

This is a review of available current literature regarding the efficacy and outcomes of IGBs for treatment of obesity and morbid obesity including randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and meta-analyses published from 2005 to 2017.

Results

Five RCTs reported weight-loss results of IGB treatment in terms of percentage of excess weight loss (%EWL). Devices were placed for 3–12 months duration and %EWL ranged from 25.1 to 50.3% at device removal and 18.8–57% 6 months later. Three RCTs reported percentage of total weight-loss (%TWL) results with IGB durations from 6 to 12 months ranging from 10.2 to 17.1% at the time of device removal. Three meta-analyses reported %EWL of 27.4–36.2% within 6 months of IGB treatment.

Conclusion

IGBs have favorable safety profiles and have shown significant short-term weight-loss improvement over lifestyle modification or pharmacotherapy. Further investigation is required to determine the long-term benefit of these devices for patients with obesity and morbid obesity as well as to monitor the devices’ long-term safety profiles.

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Mount Auburn Hospital, 330 Mt Auburn St, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA

    R. Wesley Vosburg & Julie Kim

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  1. R. Wesley Vosburg
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  2. Julie Kim
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Correspondence to R. Wesley Vosburg.

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The authors declare no conflicts of interest relevant to this manuscript.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical collection on Bariatric Surgery.

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Vosburg, R.W., Kim, J. Intragastric Balloons: Indications, Options, Outcomes. Curr Surg Rep 5, 34 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40137-017-0197-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40137-017-0197-y

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