Bioenterics intragastric balloon : 7 years experience

Background: Since 1998, we adopted in our clinical practice for treatment of obesity and morbid obesity the BioEnterics Intragastric Balloon (BIB®): it has the characteristics of an “ideal gastric balloon” (Tarpon Springs Workshop, 1987). Methods: Since March 1998, we placed by the endoscopic approach 518 BIB in 480 patients affected by obesity and morbid obesity; 124 male and 356 female, mean age 41.6 years (18-72), mean weight kg 116.9 (67-229), mean BMI 42 kg/m2 (27.3-81.1). All our patients underwent diet of 1000 Kcal/day and treatment with antisecretory drugs. Results: The mean weight lost was 14.69 kg and the mean reduction in BMI was 5.11 kg/m2. Weight lost was greater in male morbidly obese (BMI >40). Weight lost was accompanied by an improvement of the diseases associated with obesity: diabetes, arterial hypertension and sleep apnea. Conclusions: The best indications for BIB were: morbidly obese patients (BMI >40) and super-obese patients (BMI >50) in prepa- ration for bariatric surgery; obese patients with BMI 35-40 with co- morbilities in preparation for bariatric surgery; obese patients with BMI 30-35 with a chronic disease otherwise unresolved; patients with BMI <30 only in a multidisciplinary approach.