Obesity is a chronic disease characterized by excessive accumulation of adipose tissue in the body with resultant adverse health effects. It was not considered much as a disease several decades ago. However, the incidence rate of obesity has increased dramatically, and it has become a great global health concern [1]. The problem with obesity is usually not with the disease itself but with the disease complications, such as diabetes, fatty liver disease, hypertension, heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and metabolic syndrome [2]. Its treatment is complex. The mainstay of obesity treatment is lifestyle modification, including diet control and exercise; other available options are weight loss pharmacotherapy, weight loss surgery, and endoscopic bariatric therapy (EBT). With the obesity market valued at 3.9 billion USD and a five-fold growth predicted over the next 6 years, the number of treatment options is expected to increase dramatically [3]. Lifestyle modification with or without pharmacotherapy is the best initial treatment option; however, more definitive methods, such as bariatric surgery or EBT, are needed for individuals with morbid obesity [4]. Bariatric surgery is the only long-term effective treatment for weight loss; however, it is indicated only for patients with severe obesity, including those with a body mass index (BMI) higher than 40 kg/m² or at least 35 kg/m² with comorbidities. Further, this surgery is limited by its complications and irreversibility [5]. EBT plays a significant role in obesity treatment by filling the gap between pharmacotherapy and surgery, especially in patients with mild to moderate obesity who are unable to lose sufficient weight through lifestyle changes and pharmacotherapy or in those with morbid obesity who are aversive to surgery [6]. EBT devices are designed for a similar weight loss function as well as improved safety, reversibility, and cost-effectiveness compared to bariatric surgery [7]. The main mechanisms of EBT include space occupation, gastric capacity reduction, gastric motor function modification, and malabsorption. Of the many EBT devices developed, the space-occupying intragastric balloons (IGBs) are the most widely used in the clinical setting [8]. This review discusses known IGBs, focusing on those under clinical trial investigations.

Borrowing the idea from losing weight using gastric bezoars, IGB was first introduced in 1982, and the United States Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) approved the Garren-Edwards gastric bubble for obesity treatment in 1985 [9,10]. The satiety-inducing factors employed are gastric distension, gastric accommodation, and hormones, and the principal mechanism of weight loss using IGBs is delayed gastric emptying, which sustains gastric distension resulting in early satiation by vagal signals [11,12]. The vagal nerve stimulation is triggered by gastric mechanoreceptors stimulated by gastric distension [13]. The Garren-Edwards gastric bubble was withdrawn from the market owing to frequent complications associated with its use, such as gastric erosions and ulcers. Subsequently, balloons with the same working mechanism but with less complications were developed.

There are three commercially available IGBs approved for 6-month clinical use by the US FDA, i.e., ReShape Duo^TM (Re-Shape Medical Inc., San Clemente, CA, USA), Orbera^TM (Apollo Endosurgery, Austin, TX, USA), and Obalon^TM (Obalon Therapeutics Inc., Carlsbad, CA, USA) (Tables 1 and 2) [14-27]. This review mainly focused on IGBs under clinical investigations, i.e., Spatz3 Balloon (Spatz FGIA, Great Neck, NY, USA), Elipse^TM Balloon (Allurion Technologies, Wellesley, MA, USA), Heliosphere Bag (Helioscopie Medical Implants, Vienne, France), Medsil^® (CSC MEDSIL, Moskovskaya oblast, Russia), LexBal (Lexel Medical, Buenos Aires, Argentina), End-ball (Endalis, Brignais, France), Adjustable Totally Implantable Intragastric Prosthesis (ATIIP)-Endogast^® (Districlass Medical, Chaponnay, France), Silimed Gastric Balloon (Silimed, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), Semistationary Antral Balloon (SAB) (JP Industria Farmacéutica S.A., Ribeirão Preto, Brazil), Medicone^® (Cachoeirinha, Brazil), and Ullorex^® Oral Intragastric Balloon (Obalon Therapeutics Inc., San Diego, CA, USA/Phagia Technologies Inc., Stuart, FL, USA).

The Spatz Adjustable Balloon (Fig. 1A) is a volume-adjustable saline-filled balloon approved for 1-year use [28]. It is placed in the gastric cavity where it decreases the remnant volume and delays gastric emptying. The Spatz Balloon was introduced to overcome known limitations of earlier balloons, such as short-term implantation, difficulty in balloon volume adjustment, and balloon migration to the bowel. A unique feature of the Spatz Balloon is an extractable thin filling catheter that permits intragastric volume adjustment in situ. Since the volume of the balloon is externally adjustable, it can be adjusted according to patient tolerability and desired weight loss outcome. The Spatz Balloon, approved for 1-year implantation, has been granted the Conformité Européenne (CE) mark. It is widely used outside the US and is currently under multicenter clinical trial investigation in the US.

Machytka et al. implanted the Spatz Adjustable Balloon in 18 patients for 12 months, and the mean weight loss amounts at 24 and 52 weeks were 15.6 kg with 26.4% excess weight loss (EWL) and 24.4 kg with 48.8% EWL, respectively [28].

Brooks et al. reported the results of 1-year implantation of the Spatz Adjustable Balloon in 73 patients [14]. The patients had a mean weight loss amount of 21.6 kg (19% of body weight) with 45.7% EWL. Catheter impaction was a major complication that occurred in three (4.1%) patients and required surgical extraction; however, there were no mortalities recorded [14].

Russo et al. compared the Spatz Adjustable Balloon with the BioEnterics Intragastric Balloon (BIB), also known as Orbera^TM [29]. In their case-control study, they compared the weight loss outcome, weight maintenance after removal, and short- and medium-term complications and found that there were no differences in these parameters observed between the two balloons [29]. However, long-term safety issues of severe complications and high mortality have been reported [30]. Further studies are needed to address the safety concerns.

The Elipse^TM Balloon (Fig. 1B) is the first procedureless IGB that is administered by swallowing, is self-emptying, and is naturally excreted [31]. It is unique in that the balloon does not require anesthesia nor an invasive endoscopic procedure for insertion or removal. The balloon is enclosed in a vegetarian capsule and attached to a thin catheter. Once swallowed, its placement in the stomach is confirmed by fluoroscopy, and the balloon is externally filled up with saline through the catheter. After 4 months, the substance inside the balloon degrades, letting the balloon deflate, and the balloon is naturally excreted through the digestive tract. The ease of insertion and removal enables many physicians who do not perform endoscopy to be able to use the balloon; this is expected to lower the total cost of diet programs.

Machytka et al. implanted the Elipse^TM device in 34 patients for 4 months, and after excluding one patient with aborted deployment and six patients with experimental balloon material use, the remaining 27 patients showed 10% weight loss; their other parameters, including BMI, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level, and systolic and diastolic blood pressures, significantly improved, while no serious adverse events occurred [15].

Alsabah et al. conducted a multicenter prospective study on 135 patients for 4 months [32]. The patients had a mean weight loss amount of 13.0 kg (15.1% of body weight) and a mean BMI drop of 4.9 kg/m². Eight patients had their balloon removed early because of vomiting (n=2), intolerance (n=3), and early deflation (n=3). The common adverse events were diarrhea in 18 (13.3%) patients and colicky abdominal pain in 29 (21.5%) patients, both occurring around the time of balloon deflation. One patient had small bowel obstruction because of balloon migration and underwent surgery [32].

Two more cases of small bowel obstruction caused by Elipse^TM balloon migration and requiring surgical intervention were reported [33]. More studies are required to address these concerns.

The Heliosphere Bag (Fig. 1C) is an air-filled polymer balloon covered with a silicone envelope [34]. Liquid-filled balloons were reported to induce nausea and vomiting around the time of balloon insertion in 10%–100% of patients due to excess balloon weight; thus, this air-filled device was introduced to circumvent this limitation. This endoscopy-inserted device weighs less than 30 g, which is a 30-fold mass reduction compared with that of the BIB, and it is approved for 6-month use.

Lecumberri et al. conducted a prospective study on the Heliosphere Bag in 82 consecutive patients with 6-month implantation [16]. The mean weight loss amount was 14.5 kg with 33.2% EWL, and a mean BMI drop of 5.3 kg/m² with nausea and vomiting was reported in 7.4% of patients [16].

Three studies have compared the air-filled Heliosphere Bag with the fluid-filled BIB; De Castro et al. and Giardiello et al. reported similar weight loss outcomes, while Caglar et al. reported the BIB as more effective for weight loss [35-37]. Further, Giardiello et al. and De Castro et al. highlighted serious technical problems with the use of this balloon, i.e., difficult balloon passage through the cardia and the upper esophageal sphincter [36,37]. Small bowel migration of the balloon was also reported [38].

The Medsil^® (Fig. 2A) is a saline-filled silicone balloon [39]. This balloon is similar to Orbera^TM; however, according to the manufacturer, the Medsil^® surpasses other balloons in terms of the biocompatibility of the silicone compound and is thereby better tolerated by patients and more economical.

According to Bužga et al., not only did the Medsil^® result in a mean weight loss amount of 18.4 kg and a mean BMI drop of 5.5 kg/m² in 6 months, but the balloon also had a positive effect on glucose tolerance, improving HbA1c levels significantly [39].

Almeghaiseeb et al. reported a mean weight loss amount of 14.3 kg and a mean BMI drop of 5.2 kg/m² in 224 patients, and the complications that occurred during the study included pancreatitis in two patients, cardiac arrhythmia in one patient, and intestinal obstruction in two patients [17].

The LexBal (Fig. 2B) is a saline-filled silicone balloon, rolled up inside a sheath. Its structure and insertion and removal methods are similar to those of the Silimed Balloon.

In the study by Żurawiński et al. who implanted LexBal balloons in 63 patients with morbid obesity, the mean weight loss amount was 25.2 kg, and the mean BMI reduction was 7.1 kg/m² [18]. The common complications were nausea (57.1%) and vomiting (44.4%); however, no severe complications, such as mechanical intestinal obstruction or death, were reported [18].

The End-ball (Fig. 2C), the most commonly used IGB in Korea, is a saline/air-filled spherical elastic polyurethane IGB. Conventional IGBs are filled with either saline or air, and both filling materials have advantages and disadvantages. The air-filled IGBs are well tolerated but less effective with regard to weight loss, while the saline-filled IGBs are superior in terms of weight loss results but with more complications. The unique feature of the End-ball is that the endoscopist can select any ratio of air to saline for infusion, and the balloon is inserted and removed using endoscopy.

Buzga et al. reported a mean weight loss amount of 14.7 kg with 32.1% EWL in 20 patients in 6 months [40]. The results were similar to those of conventional balloons with a low incidence rate of complications [40]. Keren and Rainis recently reported a mean weight loss amount of 23.5 kg, a mean BMI reduction of 6.4 kg/m², and an EWL of 39.2% in 114 patients who were treated with the End-ball; the significant weight loss continued for 1 year after balloon removal [19].

The ATIIP-Endogast^® (Fig. 3A) is an air-inflated oval polyurethane IGB placed in the gastric corpus-fundus area. The balloon is placed in the proximal stomach to induce gastric accommodation reflex inhibition and neuro-hormonal disruption, which result in early satiety. The ATIIP-Endogast^® is inserted via a combined endoscopic-surgical procedure, and the prosthesis in the stomach is connected to a subcutaneous totally implantable system to avoid dislocation and allow for volume adjustment. Gaggiotti et al. implanted the ATIIP in 57 patients and recorded mean BMI drops of 7.4 kg/m² at 3 months, 8.4 kg/m² at 6 months, and 12.2 kg/m² at 12 months; the mean EWL progressed from 22.3% at 3 months, 28.7% at 6 months, and 39.2% at 12 months [20]. Nine patients had their balloons removed before 12 months; three patients underwent surgery after successful weight loss, and six patients showed no weight loss after routine follow-up. Five patients with successful weight loss had their balloon removed after more than 12 months. The common complications observed were local subcutaneous infection at the incision site (12.2%), pneumoperitoneum (5.2%), and air leak from the prosthesis (3.5%) [20]. The balloon has been granted the CE mark; however, there are only a few studies on the ATIIP-Endogast^®, and more studies are necessary.

The Silimed Gastric Balloon (Fig. 3B) is a spherical transparent silicone balloon, rolled up inside a thin silicone sheath [21]. The balloon inside the sheath is inserted to the stomach via endoscopy with direct visualization by holding it with a snare at the tip of the scope. After insertion, the balloon is filled with saline, contrast, and methylene blue and placed in the gastric fundus under endoscopic guidance. Contrast is used for better radiographic visualization of the device. Removal is also performed under direct endoscopic observation, and the balloon which has been emptied using a catheter is captured by a snare and removed via the overtube.

Carvalho et al. reported a mean weight loss amount of 11.3 kg with a mean BMI drop of 3.9 kg/m² in 14 patients following 6-month implantation of the Silimed Balloon [21]. An initial complication of epigastric pain was observed in 21% of the patients, and a late complication of spontaneous balloon deflation without migration to the intestine was seen in two patients near the end of the 6-month term [21].

However, the CE certificates for all Silimed medical products, including the Silimed Gastric Balloon, were suspended in 2015 owing to a quality control issue with particle contamination; however, the Silimed Balloon is still used in other parts of the world.

The SAB (Fig. 3C) is a pear-shaped silicone balloon with a 30-cm-long duodenal stem and a 7-g metallic weight at its distal end [22]. Compared with the aforementioned balloons, the SAB focuses on satiety caused by postprandial antral distension and sensory fullness. The mechanism of the SAB is antral and proximal duodenal satiety receptor stimulation by intermittent pyloric occlusion. Via endoscopy, the balloon is inserted and anchored in the antrum, with its proximal end within the antrum and the distal end positioned at the second duodenal portion with the duodenal stem. The balloon is then filled with 150–180 mL of saline containing contrast and methylene blue. After 6 months, the SAB is punctured and removed endoscopically.

Lopasso et al. inserted the SAB in 26 patients and reported a median weight loss amount of 6.5 kg over a mean period of 3.5 months [22]. Weight loss was greater in patients who weighed over 90 kg and tolerated the SAB for 6 months. The SAB was well tolerated by patients because of its small size. The SAB spontaneously ruptured in four patients (15%), and of these, one patient had a small bowel obstruction and had the SAB surgically removed. The SAB needs technical improvements and further investigations [22].

The Medicone^® (Fig. 3D) is a saline-filled silicone IGB. Its capacity, determined by an endoscopist during implantation, varies from 300 to 700 mL. This balloon is widely used in South America; however, there are sparse clinical studies on this balloon. Pezzo et al. reported the study findings of 10 adolescent patients, which were similar to other study findings of adolescents [41]. Neto et al. reported 5,172 cases of Medicone^® use, comprising 12.4% of the total balloon implantations in Brazil, and the complications were also similar to those of other IGBs [42].

The Ullorex^® Oral Intragastric Balloon is a large capsule that is ingested with injected citric acid. The unique feature of this balloon is that endoscopy is not needed for implantation or removal. The citric acid reacts with the sodium bicarbonate in the capsule and forms carbon dioxide, which gradually inflates the balloon to 300 cm³. After a month, a plug on the balloon is degraded by gastric acid, and the balloon is deflated spontaneously and removed by natural excretion through the digestive tract.

Martin et al. reported a mean weight loss amount of 1.5 kg over 2 weeks in 12 patients without serious complications [23]. However, the size of the pill is too big to swallow easily, and there is a possibility of esophageal inflation. Further technical development with randomized controlled trials is needed.

The obesity market is a promising industry, and development of new products and supplementation of existing products are continuously on trial to overcome the limitations of conventional IGBs.

Do et al. developed a gas-filled spherical balloon with a magnetic soft capsule device [43]. The magnetic capsule is controlled by an external magnetic field to open the inflation and deflation valves. The authors tested this balloon in porcine stomachs in vivo and successfully validated the inflation and deflation processes. Further studies on live animals and humans are ongoing [43].

There are other balloons that are currently under development; however, information on such is limited.

Obesity is a chronic disease, and its treatment should provide a long-term effect. The main limitation of IGBs is that their long-term weight loss outcome is still unclear. To overcome such, several methods are being studied. One trial is investigating the effects of combining IGBs not only with lifestyle modifications and pharmacotherapy but also with other types of endoscopic treatment devices that use different weight loss mechanisms.

Ghoz et al. conducted an animal study on combined IGB and duodenojejunal bypass sleeve, and the combination therapy significantly increased the levels of postprandial insulin [44]. Further studies are necessary to verify whether this modality can be used in clinical settings.

Since the incidence rate of obesity does not seem to be decreasing but is rather expected to continue increasing rapidly, it is anticipated that the various bariatric devices will consequently keep evolving. In particular, EBT devices, including IGBs, play a role in bridging the gap between pharmacotherapy and surgery. In terms of reversibility, safety, and cost-effectiveness, EBT devices also have clear advantages over bariatric surgery, even though bariatric surgery has long-term weight loss benefits [45]. Therefore, in deciding on the optimal treatment plan from the available treatment modalities, a holistic individualized approach that is frequently re-evaluated should be considered. Furthermore, physicians should remain flexible and be ready to switch treatment plans depending on patient dynamics.

In our review, the common complications of IGBs were nausea, vomiting, and discomfort, especially during their insertion and removal; however, the long-term weight loss benefits are yet to be proven. Further studies focusing on reducing the side effects of IGBs and enhancing the long-term weight loss benefits of IGBs and outcomes of repeated IGB insertion should be conducted.