Il posizionamento del pallone intragastrico nel trattamento chirurgico dell'obesità. Nostra esperienza in regime ambulatoriale.

The prevalence of people who are overweight or obese has increased dramatically in high-income countries over the past 20 years. Obesity is associated with numerous comorbidities affecting virtually every organ system, including hypertension, type II diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, dyslipidemia, certain cancers, and in the end increased mortality. Obesity is notoriously difficult to manage. Diet, behavioural therapy, exercise, and pharmacologic intervention have been traditionally used but generally yield modest results, and weight regain is common. In cases of failed medical therapy, bariatric surgery should be considered the treatment of choice for severe obesity. Intragastric balloon treatment, less invasive than surgery, promotes a weight loss of 5-9 BMI (body mass index) units in 6 months with an impressive improvement of obesity-associated comorbidities in all those patients not suitable for surgery due to different reasons. Our experience demonstrate that intragastric balloon treatment is widely and safely performed under slight sedation as outpatient procedure, with the same complications and a greater patient's compliance.