A gastric balloon is a surgical procedure that makes it easier for a person to reduce their weight. It is placed in the stomach to restrict the volume of food that a person can eat. People who have the procedure need to follow a specific diet to achieve the desired result. This diet is comprised of three phases – immediate post-procedure, post-operative, and long-term. Initially, a patient should follow a liquid diet, gradually moving on to a regular diet.
After a ballongastrique surgery, patients may experience nausea and vomiting for up to two weeks. Anti-sickness medication is available to help with this discomfort. Eating small portions is essential, and moving around is helpful to move food through the gut. Patients who are particularly sensitive to nausea may also be given medication to help them cope.
The procedure is relatively simple and can be performed quickly in the hospital. The patient is given sedatives to make the process more comfortable. The doctor will use a thin, lighted instrument with a camera on the tip to place the balloon into the stomach. The procedure usually takes between 30 minutes and an hour.
Patients who have a high BMI and are not prone to emergency surgery may benefit from a gastric balloon procedure. In such cases, the balloon approach can reduce the risks of complications and reduce costs. Patients who are pre-obese may also benefit from the procedure. In addition, the process can help obese patients who need non-emergency weight loss surgery.
Patients with gastric balloons may experience difficulty eating certain types of foods after the procedure. Foods that are dry and firm may irritate the balloon. Other foods that can be challenging are rice, pasta, and bread. A few days after the procedure, patients are able to eat most foods normally. They are advised to eat smaller portions, eat slowly, and drink plenty of water.
The procedure is usually performed under a light sedation. The balloon is inserted into the stomach through the mouth and filled with a saline solution. The solution contains a blue dye, which can be detected in the urine if the balloon breaks. The procedure usually takes about 20-30 minutes, depending on the size of the stomach. Patients should have someone drive them home after the procedure.
The procedure is generally performed as an outpatient procedure. A general anesthetic is administered before the flexible tube is inserted into the stomach. The doctor will then use a camera called an endoscope to quickly inflate the balloon. The balloon is inflated with saline or gas. After the balloon is inflated, patients can begin to feel full more quickly.
Patients who undergo the gastric balloon surgery shed roughly one third of their overall excess body weight as a result of the treatment. The discrepancy between the weight a person has before surgery and the weight that is considered to be an ideal body weight is what is known as excess body weight. Patients need to make adjustments to their lifestyles during this time in order to maintain their weight loss.
