New endoscopic technique for intragastric balloon removal

BACKGROUND: Placement and removal of the intragastric balloon for obesity are performed endoscopically often under general anesthesia. We propose a safer and faster technique for endoscopic removal of the intragastric balloon using standard sedation. METHODS: In 87 obese patients, we performed 3 removal techniques: 1) standard gastroscope and foreign body forceps, 2) standard gastroscope and retrieval snare, 3) double-channel gastroscope and foreign body forceps plus symmetrical "shark model" polypectomy snare. Balloon retrieval time, number of times the grasping devices lost the balloon, amount of antispasmodic drug, symptoms cumulative score and VAS score for discomfort were evaluated. RESULTS: The technique by double-channel gastroscope and foreign body forceps plus symmetrical polypectomy shark retrieval snare showed a significantly lower balloon retrieval time, number of lost balloons, total number of ampoules used, symptoms cumulative score and VAS score compared to the other two techniques (Dunn's P<0.05). Number of lost balloons was positively associated with number of antispasmodic ampoules used, balloon retrieval time and VAS score. CONCLUSIONS: Technique by double-channel gastroscope and foreign body forceps plus symmetrical polypectomy shark retrieval snare, allows balloon removal safely, quickly and easily, avoiding loss of the balloon, with good patient endurance.