Experience of endoscopic intra-gastric balloons removal during COVID-19 pandemic in 98 patients.

Abstract Introduction: During COVID-19 pandemic, all elective surgical interventions were suspended, including bariatric and metabolic (B&M) surgeries and endoscopic procedures. Delayed extraction of intragastric balloons associated with a higher complication rate [1]. Experts agreed that endoscopic bariatric procedures are semi-elective/urgent procedures and can be performed following specific protocol during this pandemic [2].Objective: To share our experience of endoscopic removal of air-filled intragastric balloons during COVID-19 pandemic following a suggested algorithm.Methods: Retrospective data review for patients who underwent endoscopic removal of intra-gastric balloons during COVID-19 pandemic in a tertiary hospital (29 February 2020 —15 June 2020).Results: Ninety-eight patients with age ranged between 14 — 71 years, mean of 33.1 ± 10.9 years. Body mass index (BMI) was 32.8 ± 4.7 kg/m2. Thirty-four were females (34.7%). Three patients (3.1%) had type II diabetes (T2D), one (1%) had hypertension (HTN), one (1%) was asthmatic and one (1%) had coronary artery disease (CAD). Procedures were performed at 15.6 ± 7 minutes. No complications occurred. No patient developed COVID-19 symptoms within 14 days after removal. Thirteen patients (13.2%) had Reverse-Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) swab tests for contact with COVID-19 positive patients and their results were negative. All the involved medical staff had negative RT-PCR tests results by the end of June 2020.Conclusion: Following our suggested algorithm, endoscopic intra-gastric balloon removal during COVID-19 pandemic was safe with a favorable outcome.