Quote:
Originally Posted by Chickadee
This is the first I've read about the balloon...I'm surprised that it can only be left in for six months though. I wonder if you have to be under general anesthetic for it to be inserted.
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Chickadee
I found some other articles, but its pretty much like I thought it would be. I have a feeding tube due to the severe gastroparesis (chronic nausea & vomiting- the tube actually bypasses my stomach and delivers the formula & meds to the second part of small intestine) so I have a small saline fill silicone balloon in my stomach that holds the feeding tube from falling out. Because of the acidic environment of the stomach, the balloon only last so long- from personal experience I know when I've went longer then 6 months between new feeding tubes that its harder to remove as the balloon won't fully deflate...big object through small hole is never a good idea (just had it replaced today....why did I let it go 7 months?!?). The WL balloon is put in via an GI endoscopy, so no incisions are made or anything. It would be like a normal upper GI endoscopy, with conscious sedation (that magic medicine that doesn't knock you completely out but erases the whole procedure from your memory...wish my dentist could use it every time I go
), so there would be very little risk and little to no pain. Recovery would be pretty much non-existent- I went shopping for tennis shoes after my first upper GI endoscopy
I wonder if the WL balloon is some how tacked in place? If it deflated and passed into the small intestine, it could cause a major blockage- that could result in severe damage, major surgery & at the most extreme, even death. And even though the balloon is suppose to have a leak proof valve, they can be defective. My first feeding tube was and I ended up having to have another one put in 3 days later (can we say ouch- the incision/tract was so fresh & raw, plus I was so sick from being malnourished from not eating for over 2 weeks...and to add insult to injury, my insurance had to pay for the second placement- the manufacture only covered the actual feeding tube, not the doctors fees & all that). The other thing is none of the article mentioned how the balloon is removed....I'm assuming it would be another upper GI endoscope, but is that included in the estimated cost or is that additional? What are the result long term? We know from experience that just about anyone can lose some weight- but can they keep it off? Or do they keep getting new balloons?
...guess we need to budget for Botox & balloons now
Here are some links to articles I found on Google:
CBC article- cost about $4000CA
CTV article with picture of balloon
Globe article- covers risk (nausea & vomiting, stomach perforation)
Evening Mancester News article- includes short patient perspective and even mention using in children (not sure about that idea
...)
CUHK Press Release- interesting on who they consider as good candidates:
1) Patients with morbid obesity (BMI >50) as a pre-surgical treatment to minimize surgical risks I could see that as a very good use, especially considering the procedure is fairly low risk (no general anesthesia) and could really help someone get down to a low enough
weight were invasive WLS wouldn't be as risky- or even possible in some cases.
2) Patients with BMI >37 who are not suitable or reluctant for obesity surgery
3) Patients with BMI >30 with repetitive failure of previous weight reduction therapies and are not recommended for obesity surgery
4) Patients with BMI <30 with obesity-related diseases with repetitive failure of previous weight reduction therapies.
I do hope that it does prove to be successful and is one day available in the US. With it being available in Canada, I can see people going there like they did for Lasik eye surgery before it was approved in the US. The cost is low enough and the risk isn't that high- it is relatively non-invasive, as compared to other WLS procedures. I do worry that it is almost too easy for any doctor to do- all they need is an endoscope and a good marketer...and well, we know where that will take us...and what it will do for WLS in general.