US Considers New Weight Loss Procedure

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A new form of bariatric surgery may become available in the United States after promising results have been found by European doctors. Vittorio Campati, a 40-year-old Chef weighing in at 308 pounds, decided to combat his obesity problem with a weight loss procedure called a stomach balloon.

The stomach balloon is a quick and noninvasive procedure in which a silicon saline filled balloon is inserted into the stomach, via the throat, with the intent of limiting the patient’s food intake. The balloon is left in the stomach for approximately six months while it takes up room, creating a false feeling of fullness, prompting the patient to curb their nutrition and diet habits.

After six months, the balloon is deflated and taken out. Dr. Nicola Basso, who executed the procedure for Vittorio Campati has performed approximately 700 other stomach balloon procedures and has seen consistent success among her patients. Basso claims that her patients lose an average of 33 to 44 pounds during the six-month period in which the stomach balloon is present. “The efficiency of the treatment depends on how the patient is able to use these six months to change his dieting habits in a more or less stable way,” commented the doctor.

Though the Food and Drug Administration has not yet approved this procedure for use in the United States, trials to examine the procedure are already being conducted in Louisville, KY.

Dr. Scott Shikora of the Tufts-New England Medical Center in Boston has commented, “I think that it could be improved in the States with probable limitations on how long it can be kept in the stomach. It looks to be safe and can be used to start weight loss for other procedures or on its own.”


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