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Gastroenterology
Safe removal of an Allurion swallowable intragastric balloon using an EUS aspiration needle at a non-specialist centre
  1. Merella Al Tali1,
  2. Roxane Kiu Yan Lam1,
  3. Adler Shing Chak Ma1,2 and
  4. Alvin Oduori Ochieng1
  1. 1Gastroenterology, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Norwich, UK
  2. 2Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwich, UK
  1. Correspondence to Dr Adler Shing Chak Ma; adler-shing-chak.ma{at}uea.ac.uk

Abstract

Intragastric balloons (IGBs) are an increasingly popular management strategy for obesity. The Allurion IGB is a swallowable balloon that spontaneously degrades after residing in the stomach for 4 months. We describe a technique for safe retrieval of an Allurion IGB using endoscopic accessories available at hospitals without a dedicated bariatric service. Nausea and pain are often encountered following IGB insertion. Infrequent but serious adverse events have been noted by NICE. As it does not normally require endoscopic removal, a specific endoscopic kit has not been designed for the Allurion IGB. Devices designed for other types of IGBs have previously been used to extract the Allurion balloon. We achieved a similar outcome using an endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) aspiration needle. Although general anaesthetic for IGB removal remains contentious, we felt this represented the safest strategy given the risk of aspiration as well as the lack of prior experience at our centre.

  • Endoscopy
  • Stomach and duodenum
  • Obesity (nutrition)

https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2024-263664

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    Footnotes

    • Contributors MAT and RKYL wrote the first draft of the case report and contributed to the literature search. AOO performed the procedure described, provided the procedure narrative and was responsible for the overall care and follow-up of the patient including consenting for publication. ASCM contributed to the literature search, wrote the discussion and learning points and was responsible for editing and submission. AOO performed the procedure described in the report and is the guarantor. Responses to reviewers’ comments and the latest revisions were written by ASCM.

    • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Case reports provide a valuable learning resource for the scientific community and can indicate areas of interest for future research. They should not be used in isolation to guide treatment choices or public health policy.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

    • Supplemental material This content has been supplied by the author(s). It has not been vetted by BMJ Publishing Group Limited (BMJ) and may not have been peer-reviewed. Any opinions or recommendations discussed are solely those of the author(s) and are not endorsed by BMJ. BMJ disclaims all liability and responsibility arising from any reliance placed on the content. Where the content includes any translated material, BMJ does not warrant the accuracy and reliability of the translations (including but not limited to local regulations, clinical guidelines, terminology, drug names and drug dosages), and is not responsible for any error and/or omissions arising from translation and adaptation or otherwise.