Intragastric Balloon Impacted in the Esophagus After Vomiting

A 32-year-old female patient presented to the emergency department with vomiting twice and then severe pain in the retrosternal region. After excluding cardiac emergencies, it was decided to perform an emergency endoscopy on the patient. A foreign body that completely occludes the lumen and does not allow the passage of the gastroscope was observed at the 30th cm of the esophagus from the incisors. The foreign body was determined to be intragastric balloon (IGB). The balloon was punctured in many places with a sclerotherapy needle and completely evacuated. The balloon was then grasped with forceps and removed. The patient was discharged after 1 night of hospitalization. Although IGB treatment is a safe practice, it may rarely lead to complications. Complications may result from operator or user error. If both the practitioner and the patient can fulfill their responsibilities properly, complications can be prevented and treatment success can be increased.

Cite this article as: Avcı E. Intragastric balloon impacted in the esophagus after vomiting. Diagn Interv Endosc. 2023;2(3):86-88.