We will compare swallowable gastric balloon and standard gastric balloon in this article. What is the difference between a swallowable gastric balloon and a standard gastric balloon? Unlike other gastric balloons, there are two separate valves in the swallowable gastric balloon. One is the filling valve which allows easy removal of the inde catheter from the mouth after filling. During all these procedures, the patient is awake and conscious. The valve closes completely when the catheter is withdrawn.
The other valve is the discharge valve and it has a very special duty. At the end of 4 months, the emptying valve of the balloon in the stomach dissolves and opens spontaneously. The completely empty balloon turns into a thin film and passes through the digestive system and is expelled by normal means.
The most important difference of the swallowable gastric balloon is that it does not require anesthesia and endoscopy. Erosions and ulcerations, which can be counted among the long-term complications of standard gastric balloons, are lower due to their shorter duration. The film layer is 85% thinner and has no solid parts as the Spatz adjustable balloon. When we compare it in terms of intestinal obstruction, although it is very low in classical balloons, it is predicted that the risk of intestinal obstruction will be lower since the balloon is already designed specifically to be expelled from the intestine.
The results of a multicenter study presented at the American Congress of Gastroenterological Surgery (SAGES) in 2016 are striking. Fifty patients with a body mass index of 27-40 were followed up for 16 weeks after the Elipse balloon application. In all patients, the balloon was filled with 550 ml of serum. After swallowing the capsule, thanks to the radiopaque catheter and capsule, it is confirmed that the balloon is in the stomach only under radiological examination, and filling is started. The filling process takes an average of 6 minutes. Within the scope of the study, all patients were followed up with ultrasound, weight measurements, and basic nutritionist support every 2 weeks. Meanwhile, metabolic values and quality of life were also monitored.
-Patients who have difficulty swallowing or cannot swallow the capsule.
-Patients who have had previous open abdominal surgery
-Patients with inflammatory bowel disease
-Patients with previous bowel obstruction
No serious complications or intestinal obstruction developed during the study. The most common side effects of a swallowable gastric balloon are nausea, vomiting, and abdominal cramps. All complaints were rated as mild to moderate. All symptoms resolved spontaneously or with medication. Severe abdominal pain was observed in 1 patient, which resolved spontaneously.
In all applications, the balloon could be swallowed without endoscopy and anesthesia. The average processing time is 22-30 minutes. In all cases, the catheter was successfully detached. At the end of 4 months, all of the balloons were expelled from the digestive system spontaneously. In 4 cases it was orally through vomiting.
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