Introduction: the intragastric balloon therapy is a special endoscopic technique, transitional between conservative and surgical therapy of pathological obesity. When conservative therapy fails and surgical intervention is too risky, the intragastric balloon therapy is considered to be accepted is many countries of the world.
Method: the author reported about case of 67 years old overweight (morbidly obese) woman, who has 170kg body weight and 71kg/m2 body mass index. The age of patient is out of suggested upper age limit and she had many several concomitant diseases: ischemic heart disease, insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, hypertension, pulmonary embolism, polypoid lesion in stomach.
The balloon implantation was performed under propofol anaesthaesia.
Results: After three months the patient has 20kg weight loss, significantly decreased blood pressure and blood sugar level.
The complication rate was low: abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, severe complications did not occur.
Summary: The early result of this complicated case has proved that the intragastric balloon therapy is simple, easy performed, safe method in the treatment of morbid obesity. In connection with this special case the authors discussed methodical details, indications and contraindications of balloon therapy, as well as complications on the basis of literature and authors' experiences.
