Gastric Pill Balloon

Elipse Pill balloon is a swallowable gastric balloon. The Pill balloon is used for treating patients with obesity problems. In simple terms the patients swallows the balloon under the guidance of the trained healthcare professional to help them achieve rapid weight loss. It is non-surgical procedure which doesn’t require an endoscopic procedure nor requires the patient to be under anaesthesia.

The Elipse Balloon designed for adults over the age of 18 who are overweight or obese, defined as a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 27. It is used as temporary weight loss aid in conjunction with a supervised nutrition & lifestyle modification program. Since the Pill balloon can only be administered by a trained physician – one must consult their physician to check of they are eligible to receive Elipse Balloon

Studies have shown, with the help of the dissolvable gastric balloon participants lose an average of 20-50% of their excess weight (1 Raftopoulos and Giannakou, 2017, in press in SOARD)

It may be noted that results will vary from individual to individual depending on the level of nutrition, lifestyle and behavioural disciple achieved by the individual.

Most people are able to swallow the balloon without issue. People who do have difficulty swallowing it can be assisted by their consultant, who will guide the balloon into place, without endoscopy or anesthesia.

Most people are able to return to normal activity within a day or two, but some people experience nausea, abdominal cramping, and occasionally vomiting after balloon placement. In most cases, these symptoms are well-controlled with the standard medications prescribed by your consultant.

There are no dietary restrictions with the dissolvable gastric balloon. However, to maximise weight loss and optimise comfort, your dietitian will make recommendations that are best tailored to you, your body, and your goals.

The Gastric ‘Pill’ balloon is in place for 16 weeks. After approximately 16 weeks inside your stomach, a time-activated release valve on the balloon will open, allowing it to empty and pass naturally through the gastrointestinal tract without the need for a removal procedure.

With the placement of the gastric pill balloon, you should be able to achieve long term weight loss as long as you can commit yourself to the nutrition, lifestyle and behavioural changes advised to you. Long term weight loss can lower your risk of potentially serious weight-related health problems, such as:

• Diabetes
• Hypertension
• Sleep apnoea
• Mobility
• Self-esteem

However for most people the attraction of having the dissolvable gastric balloon is that it does not involve surgery and it can be done in an outpatient’s appointment, meaning a minimal interruption to daily life.

There are other surgical options available, such as a traditional gastric balloon, sleeve gastrectomy, a gastric bypass or a gastric band. All of these options (apart from the gastric balloon) are major surgical procedures that normally involve a hospital stay, recovery in the more invasive procedures are also usually slower. A Gastric ‘Pill’ balloon has fewer complications in installation and there is a lower risk of serious complications.

1. Pre-Consultation
   1. The Surgeon provides information about the process of Pill balloon installation. The nutrition coach discussed the lifestyle changes that one needs to commit to make the Pill Balloon program successful
2. Gastric balloon installation
   The balloon system consists of a soft, expandable balloon, a placement tube and a filling system.
   1. During a 20-minute outpatient visit, you will swallow a capsule that contains the deflated balloon along with a thin tube.
   2. Once the capsule has entered your stomach, your surgeon will use the tube to fill the balloon with 550 ml of water with water.
   3. Once the balloon is filled, your surgeon will gently remove the tube and viola the procedure is complete you are ready to go.
3. During the 4 months of therapy the user transmits data to their physician via a ‘smart scale’ who can evaluate the data, provide advice & support to make the program effective
4. After 4 months the balloon automatically deflates and is excreted naturally without the need for a removal procedure
5. The care team provides ongoing support and lifestyle coaching