Follow up
After IGB insertion and before discharge, patients remained for almost
1-2h in the anesthesia recovery room until full recovery from sedation.
Instructions were provided for a 5-day liquid diet (with progressive
increase in the ingested volume). On the sixth day, a semi-solid diet
was prescribed and, after the thirteenth day, solids were introduced
into a 1200 kcal/day diet. Afterwards (maximum 15 days after IGB
placement), the patients were referred to a personalized nutritional
counseling, when an individual diet was prescribed with a range of 10-15
kcal/kg/day. Monthly follow up with a multidisciplinary team (dietitian,
psychologist and doctor) was offered to all patients.
In the first three days after balloon insertion, patients were
instructed to use three anti emetic drugs (metoclopramide, ondansetron
and dimenhydrinate), an anti-foaming drug (dimethicone), and
analgesics/antispasmodics (escopolamine plus dipyrone and
acetaminophen). All patients were instructed to use proton pump
inhibitor (PPI; pantoprazole magnesium) throughout the treatment: a
double dose in the first month (80mg) and a full dose from the second
month (40mg) to the end of the treatment. Additionally, vitamin and
mineral supplementation and probiotics (Lactobacillus acidophilusLA 16) were given to all patients during the entire treatment.