Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy versus intragastric balloon: a case-control study.

Area of Science:

• Bariatric Surgery
• Gastroenterology
• Weight Management

Background:

• Obesity is a significant global health concern requiring effective weight loss strategies.
• Bariatric procedures are often employed for substantial and sustained weight reduction.
• Initial bariatric procedures aim to facilitate weight loss before more invasive surgeries.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) and BioEnterics intragastric balloon (BIB) for weight loss and comorbidity management.
• To evaluate these procedures as a first-step intervention over a 12-month follow-up period.
• To determine the suitability of LSG and BIB prior to more invasive bariatric surgery.

Main Methods:

• A comparative study involving 40 patients undergoing LSG and 80 patients receiving BIB therapy.
• Data collected included procedure time, hospital stay, complications, and weight loss parameters (BMI, %EWL, %EBL).
• Follow-up assessments were conducted at 6 and 12 months post-intervention.

Main Results:

• No mortality or major complications were reported in either the LSG or BIB groups.
• At 6 months, both groups showed similar BMI reductions.
• After 12 months, LSG patients continued to lose weight, while BIB patients experienced weight regain, despite dietary adherence. No significant differences in comorbidity reduction were observed between groups.

Conclusions:

• Both LSG and BIB are viable first-step procedures for initiating weight loss.
• LSG involves risks associated with general anesthesia and surgery, while BIB has a low rate of minor complications like psychological intolerance.
• Currently, BIB is considered a preferable short-term (12-month) first-step procedure compared to LSG due to its safety profile and ease of use.