or are you just happy to see me?
The intragastric Balloon could be the latest answer to weight loss surgery. This is a non-surgical solution. The balloon is designed to provide short term weight loss for up to six months. The silicone balloon is placed endoscopically and filled with saline to partially fill the stomach. No surgical incisions, no long term recovery. Is this a better answer to the current weight loss surgery performed in the USA?
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Intragastric balloon surgery in India is one of the most prominent obesity surgery procedure that is being undertaken by medical patients from abroad at the hands of experienced obesity surgeons in India at Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore.
The use of an intragastric balloon in the treatment of obesity and morbid obesity has been a well-known. The idea of using a gastric space-occupying volume device, giving a sensation of satiety, for the control of obesity was first described in 1982. Since then, reports have indicated weight loss can be achieved by the use of various free-floating intragastric balloons. Intragastric balloon surgery is performed when an inflatable gastric balloon is endoscopically inserted and then inflated in the stomach to reduce capacity i.e the balloon is inserted via the mouth and oesophagus directly into the stomach.
Immediately following the introduction of the Gastric Balloon the balloon is inflated by introducing saline into the balloon which causes it to swell and reduces a patient's capacity and ability to consume large volumes of food and fluid. This procedure can be used in isolation to provide a short medium term solution for patients who are struggling to cope with their moderate weight loss challenges. This procedure can also be used as a useful treatment for more seriously and morbidly obese patients, who needs medical assistance in getting to a safer level of obesity before contemplating a more complex and permanent choice of weight loss surgery. Intragastric balloon surgery is said to be of less risk then highly morbid obesity surgery procedures like gastric bypass surgery, gastric sleeve surgery, and lap band surgery.
Clinical Trials are recruiting participants in Italy.
Balloon tamponade is the use of a balloon inserted into the stomache and inflated to stop bleeding. Uterine balloon therapy is another common balloon usage in medical science. The intragastric balloon is different as it is left in place for up to six months. The FDA has not approved this procedure in the USA. It is currently being done in other nations with some success. The intragastric balloon is done without general anaesthetic and does not require an overnight stay in the hospital. It is reported to be quick and painless.
Balloon risks are leakage, bursting, ulcers, a rupture caused during insertion or removal and gastric problems such as reflux and vomiting. The balloon is a short term solution for a long term problem. The balloon will assist the patient in eating smaller portions. A proper diet of fresh fruit and vegetables as well as whole grains, fish and chicken is ofter recommended. If the patient remains on the diet after the balloon is removed and caloric restriction continues the patient can continue to lose weight.
I am not suggesting anyone run off to India to get this procedure, but it is something I was unaware of. It certainly does look alot less invasive than the weight loss surgery currently performed in this country. If you look at this study on one type of gastric band the average weight loss at 3 years post operative is 51 pounds and 41% of excess weight was lost.
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I have been trying to pick up tuesdays but I am on a business trip next week. I can return to tuesdays on the 25th of May.