Comparative analysis of post-procedural symptom patterns after intragastric balloon and endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty

Aim: Endoscopic bariatric and metabolic therapies (EBMTs) offer minimally invasive approaches for obesity management, with intragastric balloon (IGB) and endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) being amongst the most prominent interventions. While both are effective, their comparative impact on post-procedural gastric symptoms remains underexplored. Methods: Single-center retrospective study was designed to evaluate the incidence of post-procedure symptoms in patients undergoing IGB and ESG. Incidence and severity of gastric symptoms were assessed using visual analog scales at various time points. Weight outcomes and medication usage were also recorded. Changes at different time points (baseline, one and four months) were compared by means of Mann-Whitney U Test. Bivariate correlations were carried out through Pearson correlation. Results: Thirty patients undergoing IGB placement and 13 patients undergoing ESG were included in the analysis. ESG group showed a significant reduction in BMI at four months compared to IGB (32.2 ± 4.2 vs . 34.4 ± 5.3, P = 0.05). ESG demonstrated significantly lower rates of post-procedural gastric symptoms compared to IGB, including nausea, regurgitation, vomiting, and abdominal cramps and greater satiety (P < 0.001) in the early postoperative period. Medication usage differed between groups, with higher usage of antispasmodics and antiemetics among IGB patients during the first week (P < 0.001). Symptom severity correlated with the need for antiemetics and antispasmodics. Conclusion: This study provides insights into the management of gastric symptoms following two prominent EBMTs. While both endoscopic interventions offer viable options for obesity management, ESG emerges as a favorable choice due to its significantly lower incidence of early post-procedural gastric symptoms. Further research is warranted to refine symptom management strategies and elucidate differences in symptom profiles between IGB and ESG procedures, ultimately aiming to optimize treatment efficacy and patient satisfaction in the field of endoscopic obesity interventions.