Role of ultrasound in the detection and management of complications of swallowable intragastric balloons for obesity: a report of two cases

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This article has been updated. A Correction to this article was published on .

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The Original Article was published on

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The Original Article was published on

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This article has been updated

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This article was retracted on

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This article has been updated

Abstract

In the context of the various management options available for obesity, intragastric balloons (IGBs) represent a solution for patients at high surgical risk. Swallowable IGBs are devices that can be ingested orally and then inflated within the stomach to aid in weight loss. Although generally well tolerated, these devices may migrate and cause gastrointestinal obstructive symptoms. Here we report on two cases where these obstructive complications of swallowable IGBs were promptly and non-invasively diagnosed with ultrasonography (US), which also permitted conservative management via US-guided percutaneous aspiration of the impacted balloons. These cases demonstrate that the US may provide a rapid and effective tool for managing IGBs migration, potentially reducing the need for surgical intervention.

Keywords

ultrasound / intragastric balloon / obesity / bowel obstruction / needle aspiration / case report

CHANGE HISTORY

A Correction to this paper has been published:
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The Retraction Note was updated to reflect reception of statements of disagreement from all authors.

This article has been retracted.Please see the Retraction Notice for more detail:
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