FDA Issues Alert Over a Dozen Fatalities from Intragastric Balloons

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a Monday alert over five deaths related to intragastric balloons. Intragastric balloons—used in the treatment of obesity—have so far been linked to a dozen fatalities worldwide. A nominally invasive device, the balloons encourage weight loss by taking up space in a patient’s stomach. Inserted through an individual’s mouth,