Tennova Center for Surgical Weight Loss Launches Non-Surgical Intragastric Balloon Procedure

8/27/2015

Tennova Healthcare is among the first in the nation and the first in East Tennessee to offer an incision-free, non-surgical procedure to patients living with moderate obesity. The intragastric balloon procedure is a new treatment option available at the Tennova Center for Surgical Weight Loss at Turkey Creek Medical Center.

Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) this month, the procedure uses a soft balloon that occupies space in the stomach. In a minimally invasive endoscopic procedure, the deflated balloon is placed into the stomach through the mouth while the patient is under mild sedation. Once in place, the balloon is filled with saline (salt water) until it expands into a spherical shape—approximately the size of a grapefruit.

The balloon remains in place for a period of six months, aiding in portion control and may ultimately sustain weight loss. According to a recent clinical study, patients who received the intragastric balloon procedure lost 10.2 percent of their body weight after the device was in place for six months.

“While new to the United States, the intragastric balloon has been available worldwide for many years, and more than 200 published papers have documented its clinical success,” said Stephen G. Boyce, M.D., medical director and bariatric surgeon at the Tennova Center for Surgical Weight Loss. “It is an effective, non-surgical solution to help fight the obesity epidemic.”

Obesity affects more than 78.6 million U.S. adults and is one of the leading causes of preventative deaths. Obesity increases the risk of health problems, such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and certain types of cancer.

“This exciting new procedure fills the treatment gap that exists for patients who are not appropriate for or not considering invasive surgery, but for whom diet, exercise or pharmaceutical interventions have not worked,” Dr. Boyce said. “It grants patients access to non-surgical options for moderate obesity – those with a body mass index between 30 and 40 – addressing a critical and growing health issue in Tennessee and across the nation.”

The Tennova Center for Surgical Weight Loss is accredited by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP) as a Comprehensive Center with Adolescent Qualifications. Turkey Creek Medical Center is also designated as a Blue Distinction Center for bariatric surgery/gastric banding and as a Blue Distinction Center+ for bariatric surgery/gastric stapling by BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee. Cigna has also designated the Tennova Center for Surgical Weight Loss as a 2015 Center of Excellence in Bariatric Surgery.

To learn more, call 1-855-TENNOVA (836-6682) or visit TennovaWeightLoss.com.

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