Presentation
Left abdominal pain, constipation, and a dry cough following recent gastric balloon placement.
Patient Data
Fluid-filled balloon with a valve in the stomach. The balloon has caused perforation of the stomach and resultant pneumoperitoneum. The proximal stomach is distended with fluid. The bowel distal to the balloon is unremarkable.
Case Discussion
Intragastric bariatric balloons are a minimally invasive, temporary treatment for patients with obesity. They work by reducing gastric volume, leading to early satiety. Complications of gastric balloon therapy include balloon migration, gastric outlet obstruction, and gastric or esophageal perforation.
In this case, the presence of free air in the left upper quadrant adjacent to the balloon suggests focal perforation of the anterior stomach. This patient also appears to be experiencing some degree of outlet obstruction, as evidenced by fluid distention in the gastric fundus.
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