• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer

Log in
  • Search
    • Search All SAGES Content
    • Search SAGES Guidelines
    • Search the Video Library
    • Search the Image Library
    • Search the Abstracts Archive
www.sages.org

SAGES

Reimagining surgical care for a healthier world

  • Home
    • Search
    • SAGES Home
    • SAGES Foundation Home
  • About
    • Awards
    • Who Is SAGES?
    • Leadership
    • Our Mission
    • Advocacy
    • Committees
      • SAGES Board of Governors
      • Officers and Representatives of the Society
      • Committee Chairs and Co-Chairs
      • Committee Rosters
      • SAGES Past Presidents
  • Meetings
    • SAGES NBT Innovation Weekend
    • SAGES Annual Meeting
      • 2026 Scientific Session Call for Abstracts
      • 2026 Emerging Technology Call for Abstracts
    • CME Claim Form
    • SAGES Past, Present, Future, and Related Meeting Information
    • SAGES Related Meetings & Events Calendar
  • Join SAGES!
    • Membership Application
    • Membership Benefits
    • Membership Types
      • Requirements and Applications for Active Membership in SAGES
      • Requirements and Applications for Affiliate Membership in SAGES
      • Requirements and Applications for Associate Active Membership in SAGES
      • Requirements and Applications for Candidate Membership in SAGES
      • Requirements and Applications for International Membership in SAGES
      • Requirements for Medical Student Membership
    • Member Spotlight
    • Give the Gift of SAGES Membership
  • Patients
    • Join the SAGES Patient Partner Network (PPN)
    • Patient Information Brochures
    • Healthy Sooner – Patient Information for Minimally Invasive Surgery
    • Choosing Wisely – An Initiative of the ABIM Foundation
    • All in the Recovery: Colorectal Cancer Alliance
    • Find A SAGES Surgeon
  • Publications
    • Clinical / Practice / Training Guidelines, Statements, and Standards of Practice
    • Sustainability in Surgical Practice
    • SAGES Stories Podcast
    • Patient Information Brochures
    • Patient Information From SAGES
    • TAVAC – Technology and Value Assessments
    • Surgical Endoscopy and Other Journal Information
    • SAGES Manuals
    • MesSAGES – The SAGES Newsletter
    • COVID-19 Archive
    • Troubleshooting Guides
  • Education
    • Wellness Resources – You Are Not Alone
    • Avoid Opiates After Surgery
    • SAGES Subscription Catalog
    • SAGES TV: Home of SAGES Surgical Videos
    • The SAGES Safe Cholecystectomy Program
    • Masters Program
    • Resident and Fellow Opportunities
      • MIS Fellows Course
      • SAGES Robotics Residents and Fellows Courses
      • SAGES Free Resident Webinar Series
      • Fluorescence-Guided Surgery Course for Fellows
      • Fellows’ Career Development Course
    • SAGES S.M.A.R.T. Enhanced Recovery Program
    • SAGES @ Cine-Med Products
      • SAGES Top 21 Minimally Invasive Procedures Every Practicing Surgeon Should Know
      • SAGES Pearls Step-by-Step
      • SAGES Flexible Endoscopy 101
    • SAGES OR SAFETY Video Activity
  • Opportunities
    • Fellowship Recognition Opportunities
    • SAGES Advanced Flexible Endoscopy Area of Concentrated Training (ACT) SEAL
    • Multi-Society Foregut Fellowship Certification
    • Research Opportunities
    • FLS
    • FES
    • FUSE
    • Jobs Board
    • SAGES Go Global: Global Affairs and Humanitarian Efforts
  • OWLS/FLS
You are here: Home / Abstracts / Unusual Problems with Intra-gastric Balloons

Unusual Problems with Intra-gastric Balloons

Tripurari Mishra, MD1, Ibrahim Al-Saidi, MD1, Peter Rantis, MD2, Rami Lutfi3. 1Advocate Illinois Masonic Hospital, 2Presence Saint Joseph Hospital, 3Mercy Hospital and Medical Center

Intragastric balloon (IGB) has become an increasingly popular emerging bariatric procedure since the approval of first device in 2015. It is commonly recommended for obese patients with BMI 30-40 who do not qualify or do not chose to have bariatric surgery. While these are non-surgical endoscopic relatively safe procedures, many adverse events have been reported, though rare. This video reports one post op complications and one technical complication.

The first video shows hyperdistention of balloon in a 50 year old obese female with BMI of 33.8, weighing 185. The patient had an uncomplicated placement of balloon and lost 30lbs. On 3rd month follow up, she reported dysphagia which worsened to nausea and food intolerance. She had been started on appetite suppressant 2 weeks prior to visit which was thought to be the cause and was stopped with no resolution of the symptoms. Repeat abdominal exam showed a palpable mass within the abdomen. Abdominal X-rays showed a hyper-distended balloon with air-fluid level. The patient was taken to Endo-suite for removal of the balloon. The procedure was uncomplicated and patient had complete resolution of symptoms after the procedure. IGB fluid was sent for culture which was negative for any growth. There have been 3 previously documented case of IGB hyperdistention attributed to flying, hyperthermia and “nocturnal oxygen supply” (1). All these were air-inflated balloon that are mostly discontinued. Today with saline filled balloon, this complication is thought to be from gas forming bacteria. Although to our knowledge, no organism has been isolated.

Second case involved a 45 year old female with BMI of 32.5, weighing 190lbs presented for IGB placement. The balloon placement was uneventful and patient had 34lb weight loss after 6 months. Removal was done at 6 months under general anesthesia and the balloon was grabbed with rat-tooth grasper but balloon tore at UES despite jaw lift and balloon dislodged. The video shows value of intubation at the time of removal to protect the airway for such unusual circumstances. Video illustrates the challenge of laryngoscope and value of glidoscope for better exposure to safely grab and remove balloon from a critical spot. The patient was extubated after the procedure and did well post operatively.

References:

1) Mathus-Vliegan EMH, Tytgat GNT. lntragastric balloons for morbid obesity: results, patient tolerance and balloon life span. Br J Surg. 1990; 77(1): 76-79.


Presented at the SAGES 2017 Annual Meeting in Houston, TX.

Abstract ID: 78847

Program Number: V024

Presentation Session: Thursday Exhibit Hall Video Presentations Session 1 (Non CME)

Presentation Type: EHVideo

70

Share this:

  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window) Pocket
  • Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon
  • Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads
  • Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky

Related


sages_adbutler_leaderboard

Hours & Info

11300 West Olympic Blvd, Suite 600
Los Angeles, CA 90064

1-310-437-0544

[email protected]

Monday – Friday
8am to 5pm Pacific Time

Find Us Around the Web!

  • Bluesky
  • X
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • YouTube

Copyright © 2025 · SAGES · All Rights Reserved

Important Links

Healthy Sooner: Patient Information

SAGES Guidelines, Statements, & Standards of Practice

SAGES Manuals