Laparoscopic removal of gastric balloon after failure of endoscopic retrieval

Complication of Gastric Balloon in an Adolescent Patient: A Case Report

As the prevalence of childhood obesity continues to rise, there is an increase in demand for temporary and minimally invasive alternatives to bariatric surgery as solutions for addressing pediatric obesity. Intragastric balloon (IGB) placement is an increasingly popular methodology for addressing adult obesity; however, it is not approved for the pediatric population. We describe the case of a 17-year-old adolescent female who underwent IGB placement in Colombia and failed to receive proper follow-up care in the country of insertion resulting in a gastric outlet obstruction. This highlights the need for United States-based pediatric surgical providers to be familiar with IGB procedures as an increase in the popularity of medical tourism creates circumstances in which these providers could be expected to manage associated follow-up care and complications related to IGB placement.

Esophageal laceration after failed endoscopic intragastric ballon retrieval and open approach treatment case report

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE

The intragastric ballon (IGB) is an minimal invasive alternative treatment of weight loss, it has a rate of complications of 2.8-5.5 %. This case highlights the importance of surveillance of the patients to prevent further complications.

CASE REPORT

We present a case of a 43 years old women with IMC of 31.25 kg/m2 and diabetes mellitus background, who underwent to insertion of intragastric ballon, unfortunately the patient lost the follow up with the endoscopy without surveillance and remain with the intragastric ballon for 9 months. The patient started to experience abdominal pain, vomit and oral intolerance so the patient attended to the endoscopist to evaluate the cause of her symptoms. The patient was brought to the endoscopy where the retrieval was not successful. The patient is brought to the emergency room for surgical extraction.

DISCUSSION

Given the high cost, complication risk and invasiveness of bariatric surgery, intragastric ballon treatment may present a safer and lower cost option for weight reduction. Most of the available IGB are recommended time for gastric ballon removal is 6-12 months, with the appropriate surveillance. In our case it was not possible to endoscopic retrieval due malfunction of the Spatz-3's valve, thickening wall and its partial migration towards the fundus and cardia which causes an esophageal laceration and gastric bleeding.

CONCLUSION

Mandatory education and accreditation of physicians dealing with bariatric endoscopy and strict supervision of obese individuals throughout the time they have the balloon in their stomachs will eliminate most complications.

Small Bowel Obstruction Following Dislodgement of an Intragastric Balloon: A Case Report

Obesity remains a significant health burden worldwide, requiring diverse and effective treatment strategies. The intragastric balloon (IGB), developed in the 1980s, offers a non-surgical option for weight management. Despite a decrease in usage, the IGB procedure continues to be an option for patients both domestically and abroad. In this article, we present the case involving a 30-year-old female who presented with severe abdominal complications 18 months after IGB placement in the Dominican Republic, well beyond the recommended six-month period for removal. This case highlights the critical risks associated with delayed IGB removal, including balloon rupture, migration, and symptoms indicative of gastric outlet obstruction. The literature supports increased complication rates with prolonged balloon retention, including risks such as gastric perforation, ulceration, and small bowel obstruction, emphasizing the importance of adhering to removal schedules. Furthermore, the case stresses the need for psychosocial evaluations before weight loss procedures and the necessity of alternative methods like laparoscopic removal when endoscopic extraction is unsuccessful. As obesity management evolves with new treatments like glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogs, ongoing research to understand their interaction with IGBs is crucial. This case underlines the importance of rigorous follow-up care, educating patients about procedural timelines, and conducting comprehensive evaluations to ensure the safety and effectiveness of IGB therapy.

Surgical Management of Intra-gastric Balloon Complications, Single-Center Experience, and Literature Review

INTRODUCTION

In Saudi Arabia, the prevalence of obesity has multiplied in the last decades leading to a surge in bariatric surgery and other endoscopic modalities. The intra-gastric balloon (IGB) is the most used endoscopic modality. Surgical management for IGB complications is required for gastrointestinal perforation and/or obstruction. However, the literature seems to underestimate these complications.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective descriptive study was conducted in King Fahd University Hospital, Saudi Arabia, from Jan 2017 to Dec 2021, including all patients with complicated IGB who necessitated any surgical procedure. Exclusion criteria were patients with complicated IGBs that were only managed conservatively or endoscopically.

RESULTS

A total of 326 patients were admitted with different complications after bariatric procedures. Of them, six patients were referred due to IGB complications that necessitated operative intervention. All patients were young females. Three patients had gastric wall perforation, and were managed by endoscopic removal of the IGBs followed by exploratory laparotomy. One patient had an intestinal obstruction on top of a migrated IGB that was surgically removed. One patient had failed endoscopic retrieval of IGB and required a laparoscopic gastrostomy. Another patient had an esophageal rupture that required left thoracotomy, pleural flap, and insertion of an esophageal stent. All cases were discharged and followed up with no related complications.

CONCLUSION

IGB is an endoscopic alternative, within specific indications, for the management of obesity. However, surgical management may be necessary to manage its complications, including gastrointestinal perforation, IGB migration, and failure of endoscopic removal.