Initial Japanese Experience with Intragastric Balloon Placement

Background

We introduced intragastric balloon placement in Japan and evaluated the initial data.

Methods

Between December 2004 and March 2008, intragastric balloons [BioEnterics® Intragastric Balloon (BIB®) system] were placed in 21 Japanese patients with obesity [six women, 15 men; mean age 40?±?9 years; mean body mass index (BMI) 40?±?9 kg/m²]. The inclusion criteria were morbid obesity (BMI?≥?35 kg/m²), the presence of obesity-related disorders, and failure with conventional treatments for at least 6 months. The balloon was routinely removed under endoscopy after 5 months.

Results

No serious complications occurred, but in two of the 21 patients (9.5%), early removal (within 1 week) of the balloon was required due to continuous abdominal discomfort. Two other patients (9.5%) could not control their eating behavior and were considered unresponsive to the treatment, and their balloons were also removed before 5 months. Seventeen of the 21 patients (81%) finished the treatment, and the average weight loss and percent excess weight loss (%EWL) at the time the balloons were removed were 12?±?5 kg and 27?±?9%, respectively. Eight patients were followed for 1 year without intervention of consecutive bariatric surgery, and at that time, four of these patients had kept more than 20% of %EWL. The other patients regained their weight in the first year.

Conclusions

Intragastric balloon placement is a safe and effective procedure in obese Japanese patients, and about half of the patients will maintain their weight loss after the balloon is removed.