Balloon removal
Removal was routinely planned for 360 days, but occurred with a minimum of 270 and maximum of 390 days after balloon implantation. Removal was preceded by a five day clear-fluid diet, in order to minimize the risk of residual food entering the trachea. Deep intravenous anesthesia without tracheal intubation was used, with the patient in a lateral decubitus position. The presence of solid food waste in the stomach resulted in the cancelation of the procedure and another was scheduled with adequate preparation.
All the liquid content in the mucosal lake was aspirated. After insertion of the gastroscope in the stomach, a needle-catheter was inserted down the working channel of the gastroscope and introduced inside the balloon after puncture. The needle was withdrawn with vacuum applied to completly empty the balloon. Following intravenous administration of scopolamine for relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter, the catheter was removed and the balloon was grasped with a polypectomy snare on the base of the tail, and slowly extracted through the esophagus. No cases of aspiration were observed during this procedure. After balloon removal, a endoscopy was performed in order to detect possible damage caused by the passage of balloon