Clinical trial of silicone-rubber gastric balloon to treat obesity

A study was conducted to test the efficacy and safety of a 300 ml silicone-rubber gastric balloon for weight reduction. Eighty-six obese subjects were distributed into four groups: (1) gastric balloon only, (2) gastric balloon and prescribed 1000 kcal/day (239 kJ) diet, (3) 1000 kcal/day diet only, and (4) no treatment. The intervention period was 3 months. The balloon only group lost 3.2 kg +/- 0.9 (s.e.), the balloon and diet group lost 5.1 +/- 1.0 kg, the diet group lost 6.9 +/- 1.4 kg and the control group gained 0.6 +/- 0.5 kg. The three intervention groups each lost significantly more weight than the control group. The diet only group lost significantly more weight than the balloon only group. Body densitometry showed that the treatment groups lost a significant amount of body fat. Gastroscopy revealed three ulcers and two superficial erosions at balloon removal. The gastric balloons were well tolerated despite gastric spasms and nausea which abated after the initial 24-48 hours. Gastric capacity was determined in a subset of 19 subjects from the two balloon groups before the intervention by distending the stomach with a balloon and calculating the volume required to produce an increase in intragastric pressure of 5 cm H2O. Subjects with a smaller gastric capacity lost more weight with the balloon than subjects with a large capacity (r = 0.45, P less than 0.05). These results suggest that for improved efficacy, balloon volume may need to be larger than 300 ml or adjusted to the individual's gastric capacity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)