Intragastric balloon for obesity treatment: results of a multicentric evaluation for balloons left in place for more than 6 months

Obesity is a major risk factor for several chronic diseases. The BioEnterics(A (R)) Intragastric Balloon (BIBA (R)) is used worldwide as a short-term (6 months) treatment in morbid obese patients. However, removal of BIBA (R) past 6 months is a common occurrence in clinical practice often as a result of patient factors. The aim of the present Italian multicentre cohort study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the BIBA (R) left in situ for more than 6 months. A total of eight Italian centres participated in the study. Participating centres received a standardised questionnaire designed to capture safety and efficacy data. Weight loss data, as well as date, and reason for removal of the BIBA (R) after 6 months were recorded. Adverse events, including mortality and complications, operators' subjective technical notes and findings, and difficulties during removal procedure were also collected. Six hundred and eleven patients were included. In the majority of cases, patient extended BIBA (R) treatment due to satisfactory weight loss (44 %). At 6 months, all patients achieved a BMI statistically lower than the initial BMI (p < 0.001). There was a non-significant trend towards greater BMIL % in patients who underwent removal up to 15 months versus the results achieved up to 6 months. No major complications were recorded. Extending the duration of BIBA (R) use up to 14 months safely maintains weight loss and satiety with greater results than that up to 6 months, without complications.