TECHNICAL INFORMATION – Heliosphere Air-Filled Intragastric Balloon
What is the Heliosphere Air-Filled Intragastric Balloon, and how does it work? PLEASE READ - IMPORTANT!
Placing an intragastric balloon in the stomach does not involve surgery or incisions, and is performed as an endoscopic procedure, through the mouth, down the throat and oesophagus and into the stomach. It is carried out under sedation, not with a general anaesthetic.
The principle of the intragastric balloon is not new. The first balloon was produced in the United States at the end of the 1980s and was abandoned because of the multiple complications it engendered (migration by fracture, gastric ulceration or perforation) due to its poor design.
Liquid gastric balloons, such as the BIB system, have existed for several years. They weigh about 600g and their use causes significant side effects in patients. The Heliosphere balloon weighs only 30g and the side effects described in the scientific literature (nausea, vomiting) have been reduced by 80%! The intragastric air-filled balloon is much better tolerated by the patient.
You can see a video of the Heliosphere being put in place.
A stomach balloon will be suggested as a method of controlling obesity if a patient meets one or more of the following criteria:
- Unable to qualify for Gastric Banding, Sleeve Gastrectomy or Bypass because the BMI is not high enough to allow surgery, but the patient cannot lose enough weight through conventional methods
- BMI of between 29 and 40
- The patient’s BMI is over 40 (or over 35 with co-morbidities) – in other words big enough for surgery but unable to be considered for an operation under general anaesthetic because of certain health problems
- The patient is very obese (BMI 50-55+) and the surgeon has recommended the balloon as a short-term measure to enable sufficient weight to be lost to allow the patient to safely have surgery later
There are some contra-indications for this procedure, and some patients may not be able to have the balloon. Some of the conditions which prevent a patient being able to have the Balloon are:
- A history of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, stomach ulcers, H-Pylori infections or bleeding disorders
- Patients with Hiatal Hernias or intestinal obstructions and [patients who have previously undergone significant stomach (not abdominal) surgery
- Patients who are pregnant or breast feeding
- Patients who are diagnosed with or are being treated for serious eating disorders such as Bulimia/Binge Eating Disorder, drug or alcohol addiction.
In the unlikely event that following your completing our medical questionnaire and being approved for the procedure a medical condition which you were not previously aware of comes to light and means that the procedure cannot go ahead, we will refund your payment, less the costs incurred.
Although the balloon is not a surgical procedure, as with any medical intervention there is a possible risk of complications. These are rare, but we feel it important to make our patients aware of them. Here are some possible complications:
- Intolerance - In a VERY small number of cases it may not be possible for the body to tolerate the presence of the balloon – even though the risk of this is less with the Heliosphere than with a Liquid-filled balloon, and the patient will need to have it removed early. If this should happen we can arrange for early extraction of the balloon. Independent scientific studies conducted have shown that the vast majority of people are able to tolerate the Gastric Balloon for the recommended 6 month insertion period.
- Deflation – This again is an extremely rare possibility. The balloon is designed to withstand the effects of stomach acid for at least 6 months (actually there have been tests of retaining a balloon in place for several months more, but the manufacturers require Balloons to be removed by no later than 6 months in the interests of patient safety).
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Gastric Perforation/Erosion of the Stomach lining - Again, an extremely rare possibility who have no history of previous stomach surgery or problems, though potentially serious. Dr Cierny will prescribe PPI drugs to help you tolerate the balloon in the early stages after its insertion. PPI medication (such as Omeprazole/Lozeprazole) helps to reduce inflammation and minimise the risk both of intolerance and damage to the stomach. We will also maintain close contact with you throughout the period of the balloon’s placement, and give you detailed instructions to help you avoid excess acid production and reflux whilst the balloon is in place.
What we do to enable the balloon to achieve the desired results for you?
Patients who are planning to have the balloon fitted need to prepare carefully ahead of the procedure (we will tell you exactly what to do), and use the 6 month period of weight loss when the balloon is in place as an opportunity to change their relationship with food, alter their eating habits and increase their energy output. It is absolutely vital that this is done, to prepare the patient for life after the balloon is removed.
We will provide you with advice and support before, during and after your procedure – for two years after the balloon is inserted – in order to give you the very best opportunity to make the most of the weight loss, and maintain the lower weight after the balloon is removed.
We give you a very precise plan to follow, telling you the best way to avoid prolonged nausea when your balloon is first placed in your stomach, and how to progress during the period of getting used to having the balloon. We will also help you to review your eating habits and exercise patterns, help and advise you on how to make changes where necessary – lots of useful tips and tricks which make it seem less of an effort - and give you all the support and encouragement you need to maintain the weight loss after the balloon is removed. Those patients who do best with their balloons are the ones who really take on board the lessons they learn whilst the balloon is in their stomachs, and are determined never to go back to old habits – it just requires a kick-start with the balloon, some common sense and a little will power – but it is far less of an uphill task to maintain a lower weight after the balloon has done its job than to permanently lose several stone through diet alone.
In the same way we tell our patients who are planning to have bariatric surgery that the surgery itself is not a magic wand, and will not do the job without some commitment and help from the patient, this is also true (maybe even more so) with the balloon.
It is not an “easy option” and requires some determination from you in order to succeed long-term. It is a very good tool to enable weight loss (of up to approx. 5 stone) over a relatively short period to be accomplished with some commitment on your part. Our aim is to ensure that this is done - first and foremost - safely! - and that the weight lost is not regained. By working closely with you and giving you all the after-care and support needed you can achieve this with our help.
Please read all about our “hand-holding service" here.
