Small intestine gastric balloon impaction treated by laparoscopic surgery

Background: The BioEnterics (R) intragastric balloon device (BIB) is being used as an adjunct for treatment of obesity. This procedure may have compli cations, mainly related to the migration of the balloon in the bowel, with abdominal cramping before anal extrusion. Methods: We report a case of migration of a deflated BIB in the small bowel with obstruction. This device had been implanted 7 months earlier. Results: The plain radiograph and the CT scan confirmed the diagnosis, and the patient was operated with opening of the bowel for removal of the devic e and the impacted food. The whole procedure was done via laparoscopy. The patient left the hospital on the 7th postoperative day. Conclusion: We report a small bowel obstruction by migration of a deflated BIB.