Intragastric Balloon Weight Loss Procedure Video – Brigham and Women’s Hospital

Chris Thompson, MD, Director of Therapeutic Endoscopy at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH), explains the intragastric balloon procedure, an option for patients who need to lose weight due to co-morbid conditions, but whose BMI does not qualify for them for standard bariatric weight loss procedures such as a sleeve gastrectomy or gastric bypass.

These procedures are very effective in treating obesity. However, bariatric surgery is limited to patients with body (BMI) greater than 40 or greater than 35 with weight-related conditions, such as diabetes or heart disease. For obese patients who don’t meet this criteria, the intragastric balloon may be an option. Eligible patients will have a BMI between 30-40 and have had no prior stomach (gastric) surgery.

The intragastric balloon is a silicon balloon about the size of a grapefruit or a softball. The balloon is placed into the patient’s stomach through an endoscope and filled with fluid while the patient is under sedation. The minimally invasive procedure takes about15 minutes and in most cases patients will go home that same day.

Learn more about the Intragastric Balloon Procedure at Brigham and Women’s Hospital: https://www.brighamandwomens.org/medi...

Read the Intragastric Balloon video transcript: https://www.brighamandwomens.org/medi...