Baigel R, Rashid F, Shrestha D, Ravichandran D
Department of Surgery, Luton and Dunstable Hospital, Luton, UK.
BMJ Case Rep. 2011 Feb 14;2011:bcr1220103602. doi: 10.1136/bcr.12.2010.3602.
A 22-year-old woman presented with generalised peritonitis from a gastric perforation due to erosion by an intragastric balloon inserted abroad 22 months previously in an attempt to help her lose weight. These balloons are of uncertain long-term benefit in obesity and should be removed after 6 months to avoid complications. This did not happen in this case; thus, leading to this life-threatening complication, which was treated with the removal of the balloon and omental patch repair of the perforation.