The NHS has introduced a non-surgical gastric balloon to aid in weight loss by restricting stomach size.
And, unlike other NHS-approved gastric balloons, this method requires no surgery, endoscopy or anaesthesia.
The treatment, approved by NICE in 2020, is a 15-minute procedure involving the ingestion of a capsule connected to a thin tube.
An X-ray confirms proper placement and 550ml of water is introduced into the balloon. After four months, a valve opens, allowing the balloon to empty and pass naturally through the body.
Musgrove Park Hospital, part of Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, treated two patients in November, with three more scheduled for February.
Allurion, the device’s manufacturer, is talking with other NHS trusts to expand availability.
Studies suggest gastric balloons that can be swallowed effectively contribute to weight loss, with patients potentially shedding one-third of excess body weight.
Professor Richard Welbourn, a consultant bariatric surgeon at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, expressed satisfaction with offering this novel outpatient procedure that promotes clinically significant weight loss within a holistic support framework.
He said: ‘We are very pleased to be able to offer this new treatment, a first for the NHS, that offers clinically meaningful weight loss as part of a holistic programme involving dietary support and care. People with severe obesity are prone to diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, which can be reversed with weight loss.
‘The Allurion balloon is a 15-minute outpatient procedure and is swallowed, so there’s no need for an endoscopy, hospital bed, theatre time or anaesthetic, which is better for the NHS and a much-improved experience for our patients. We expect patients using the programme to lose 10-15% of their weight in four months, improving their quality of life and making them healthier.’
Dr Shantanu Gaur, founder and CEO of Allurion, is excited about this inaugural partnership with the NHS and envisions extending the collaboration to benefit more patients.
He said: ‘We are thrilled to partner 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 coming months and years.’
The Allurion balloon is backed by 26 peer-reviewed clinical studies.
Photo credit: Valeria Laureano
