Non-surgical gastric balloon available on NHS for the first time
A non-surgical gastric balloon that helps with weight loss by limiting the size of the stomach has been made available on the NHS for the first time.
The treatment, which was approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) in 2020, takes 15 minutes and involves the patient swallowing a capsule attached to a thin tube.
An x-ray confirms the correct placement in the stomach and 550 ml of water is introduced into the balloon through the tube. A second x-ray is then taken to check whether the balloon is full and seated properly in the stomach. The tube is then removed.
The treatment lasts four months, after which a valve opens and the balloon deflates and passes naturally through the body.
Unlike other gastric balloons available on the NHS, this one does not require surgery, endoscopy or anesthesia.
Two patients received the treatment in November last year at Musgrove Park Hospital, part of the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, and a further three patients will receive the treatment at the same trust in February.
Allurion, the company that produces the device, says it is in discussions with other NHS trusts to roll out the treatment more widely.
Ingestible gastric balloons have been described as an effective treatment for obesity, with previous studies suggesting it could help patients lose about a third of excess body weight.
Professor Richard Welbourn, consultant bariatric surgeon at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are very pleased to be able to offer this new treatment, a first for the NHS, which provides clinically meaningful weight loss as part of a holistic program with nutritional support. and care.
“People with severe obesity are prone to diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, that can be reversed through weight loss.
“The Allurion balloon is a 15-minute outpatient procedure and is swallowed, so there is no need for an endoscopy, hospital bed, theater time or anesthesia, which is better for the NHS and a much better experience for our patients.
“We expect patients using the program to lose 10-15% of their weight in four months, improving quality of life and making patients healthier.”
Dr. Shantanu Gaur, Founder and CEO of Allurion, said: “We are delighted to be working with the NHS for the first time to deliver the Allurion programme.
“We look forward to expanding this partnership and benefiting many more NHS patients in the months and years to come.”