Clinical and Medical Case Reports

Endoscopic bariatrics, consisting of intragastric balloon (IGB) placement for periods of time, has become a non-surgical treatment for obese patients in search of weight-loss. The long-term outcome is still evolving and maintenance of weight-loss once the balloon is removed remains controversial.

The aim is to determine if 6.5 months of ICB treatment provides long-term weight-loss aintenance after removal in the absence of outpatient support. Twelve of 24 obese patients aged 40 years±8.7 were successfully contacted. Anthropometric measurements were recorded at baseline, removal, and telephone followup. Successful long-term therapy is defined as maintenance of total body weight-loss percentage (TBWL) of over 10% from baseline. At balloon removal (6.5 months±2.6) the measurements were body mass index (BMI)(30kg/m2±2.9), percent of excess weight-loss (EWL)(56%±34.9), and TBWL%(13%±5.7). Telephone follow-up occurred 4±2.3 years after removal, regain has been observed for BMI (33kg/m2±4.8), %EWL (32%28.9), and TBWL%(4%±8.4). Three patients maintained TBWL% of 16%(TBWL% of 20% at removal), while four patients have kept a TBWL% of <5% (TBWL% of 13% at removal). Unfortunately, five patients returned to baseline weight, 2 of whom reached

TBWL% of 20% and 13% at removal. IGB treatment results in temporary weight-loss. Once removed, recidivism or regain is a problem from long-term benefit. It has proven to be a long-term solution in 25% as opposed to 83% of patients who saw temporary success at removal. Continuous outpatient support using psychotherapy, exercise, and supervision is necessary after balloon removal, and yields the best long-term benefit. IGB can however, be valuable as a short-term weight-loss intervention.