BACKGROUND: The intragastric balloon is filled with saline and methylene blue dye, to detect balloon deflation early and prevent bowel obstruction, by monitoring the patient's urine for changes in color. METHODS: An intragastric balloon filled with 590 ml of saline plus 10 ml of methylene blue was endoscopically placed under sedation in a 22-year-old man with morbid obesity (BMI 42 kg/m2). 3 days later, the patient's urine changed to dark green, and, suspecting a leaking balloon, endoscopy was repeated under sedation. RESULTS: No signs of balloon deflation were seen, and the urine returned to normal color. The next day, the urine turned green again. 7 days later, the urine discoloration finally disappeared. CONCLUSION: Propofol, a sedative commonly used by anesthesiologists during endoscopic procedures, is known to have several side-effects, and urine discoloration is one of them, albeit rare. This benign side-effect must be known to obesity surgeons to avoid pointless medical expenditure, unnecessary balloon removal and distress for patients and clinicians.
BACKGROUND: The intragastric balloon is filled with saline and methylene blue dye, to detect balloon deflation early and prevent bowel obstruction, by monitoring the patient's urine for changes in color. METHODS: An intragastric balloon filled with 590 ml of saline plus 10 ml of methylene blue was endoscopically placed under sedation in a 22-year-old man with morbid obesity (BMI 42 kg/m2). 3 days later, the patient's urine changed to dark green, and, suspecting a leaking balloon, endoscopy was repeated under sedation. RESULTS: No signs of balloon deflation were seen, and the urine returned to normal color. The next day, the urine turned green again. 7 days later, the urine discoloration finally disappeared. CONCLUSION:Propofol, a sedative commonly used by anesthesiologists during endoscopic procedures, is known to have several side-effects, and urine discoloration is one of them, albeit rare. This benign side-effect must be known to obesity surgeons to avoid pointless medical expenditure, unnecessary balloon removal and distress for patients and clinicians.
Authors: Zafer S Matar; Abbas A Mohamed; Muhammad Abukhater; Mobarak Hussien; Fawaz Emran; Nadeem A Bhat Journal: Obes Surg Date: 2009-12 Impact factor: 4.129
Authors: Sérgio Alexandre Barrichello Junior; Igor Braga Ribeiro; Ricardo José Fittipaldi-Fernandez; Ana Carolina Hoff; Diogo Turiani Hourneaux de Moura; Mauricio Kazuyoshi Minata; Thiago Ferreira de Souza; Manoel Dos Passos Galvão Neto; Eduardo Guimarães Hourneaux de Moura Journal: Endosc Int Open Date: 2018-11-07