Swallowable gastric balloon, also known as ellipse gastric balloon, is a capsule gastric balloon treatment that is functionally used especially in the treatment of obesity patients, does not require any anesthesia procedure or can be performed without the need for surgical procedure. This treatment is the most commonly used type. Swallowable capsule gastric balloon is a method generally preferred by people who cannot lose weight with diet. Thanks to this method, patients regulate their diet with the advice of a doctor and lose weight quickly over time. With the swallowable capsule gastric balloon, patients do not feel hunger as before, the person feels satiety, so the person eats less. The principle of working is the same as other gastric balloon methods.
What is Swallowable Capsule Gastric Balloon?
Overweight and obesity is now seen as a disease all over the world and an epidemic that causes many diseases. Only diet and exercise programs are not effective in defeating this epidemic, so different solutions have started to take more place in our lives. One of the non-surgical weight loss methods is balloons. These can be liquid or air-filled. Although there are many different types of balloons, the swallowable capsule gastric balloon has recently started to take its place in practice.
Swallowable capsule gastric balloon is reported to be softer in structure than other classical balloons and less irritating for the stomach. In addition, the application is much more comfortable for the patient in terms of being performed in a comfortable environment without anesthesia and endoscopy. The applied capsule gastric balloon is expelled spontaneously with defecation after 4-4.5 months after the liquid in it is slowly expelled.
During the time the capsule gastric balloon remains, it causes both less eating and decreased appetite, causing the fats in the body to melt and weight loss to occur. The amount of weight loss depends on the fat content of the patient and adherence to the program. On average, 10-15% of body weight can be reduced in 16 weeks.
How is Swallowable Capsule Gastric Balloon performed?
It is one of the anesthesia-free, endoscopy-free and non-surgical weight loss methods. During the application, which is carried out by talking in a comfortable environment after the preparation period, the capsule with a cannula at the end is swallowed with water and a control X-ray film is taken and after its location is determined, sterile liquid (500ml) is given to the capsule in the stomach through the cannula and inflated into a balloon; Then 2. X-ray film is taken and the balloon position is checked and the procedure is terminated by withdrawing the cannula. Capsule gastric balloon placement takes approximately 15-20 minutes. A follow-up program is organized after the application.
Who Can Have Swallowable Capsule Gastric Balloon?
It can be applied to people over 18 years of age and with a body mass index above 27.
Who Cannot Have Swallowable Capsule Gastric Balloon?
- Large hiatus hernia / stomach hernia
- Previous stomach surgery with part of the stomach removed or intestinal obstruction surgery
- Pregnancy or active attempt at pregnancy
- Alcohol or drug addiction
- Cancer (in the last 5 years)
- Serious diseases (liver, lung, kidney...)
- Active gastrointestinal ulcers, bleeding.
- Steroid use for too long
- Gastric balloon is not applied in cases such as clotting disease.
What is the Process Before Swallowable Capsule Gastric Balloon Application?
It is one of the anesthesia-free, endoscopy-free and non-surgical weight loss methods. The overweight patient who meets the criteria undergoes a preparation period of 1 week and 10 days before the application. During this period, the stomach is prepared by taking stomach protector. A few days before the procedure, the patient should have a liquid and light diet. On the morning of the application day, both the stomach protector and the necessary medication to prevent nausea are taken and the swallowable capsule gastric balloon procedure is performed.
What is the Process After Swallowable Capsule Gastric Balloon?
After the application process, the stomach volume is much smaller, so less is eaten, and the feeling of hunger is also reduced due to the prolonged stay of food in the stomach.
The patient is given a program that must be followed.
In the first few days, there may be tenderness and nausea in the stomach due to the adaptation period, but then the patient relaxes. During this period, medication will be taken for nausea and possible cramps.
In addition, stomach protector should be taken during the entire period the balloon will remain in the stomach.
Diet of the person undergoing the procedure:
- The first 2-3 days are liquid nutrition period. It should never be forced, but enough liquid should be taken. Such as water, herbal tea, clear soups.
- From the 3rd day to 1 week / 10 days is the puree period. Soft foods are eaten pureed or mashed. Such as fruit, vegetable purees, yogurt.
- After 1 week / 10 days, nutrition is started within the regulated diet program.
The complaints that may occur are much less than with other classical balloons because the structure is less irritating.
What are the harms and side effects of an ingestible gastric balloon?
Although no significant side effects have been observed in all studies, it may cause minimal nausea and cramps. It can be discarded earlier than 16 weeks in 1% of applications.
