Comparison of the effects of endoscopic intragastric balloons: A single-center study

INTRODUCTION: Obesity is a major health care problem and one of the sustained solutions of obesity is bariatric surgery and bariatric endoscopic procedures. An endoscopic intragastric balloon (IGB) is a procedure for achieving weight loss in obese patients. This study evaluated the effects of two types of endoscopic IGBs and compared their outcomes at our center.
METHODS: This retrospective analysis included patients who had endoscopic IGBs between 2021–2024 and recorded their demographic data: age, gender, weight, height, and body mass index (BMI). The patients were divided into two groups according to balloon type—adjustable IGB and non-adjustable IGB—to compare their weight loss, excess weight loss percentage (EWL%), and total weight loss percentage (TWL%). We also analyzed initial balloon volume, increase in balloon volume, balloon intolerance, and balloon complications.
RESULTS: Among the 93 patients included, 50 had non-adjustable IGBs, and 43 had adjustable IGBs. Their mean age was 34.9±8.8 years, 82.8% were women, and the mean BMI was 32.7±4.2 kg/m2. Eight patients (8.6%) removed the balloon due to intolerance. The mean weight loss was 9.1±7.6 kg, the mean TWL% was 9.9±7.9, and the mean EWL% was 42.6±66%. IGBs achieved sufficient weight loss (p<0.00), with no significant difference in weight loss, EWL%, or TWL% changes found between the adjustable IGB and the non-adjustable IGB groups. Furthermore, no relationship was observed between balloon type or initial balloon volume in patients with early removal. No major complication was observed.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Endoscopic IGBs achieved significant weight loss in patients with obesity, with low complication rates and no significant difference in weight loss between adjustable or non-adjustable IGBs of different volumes.