• Paolo Bernante, Francesco Francini, Fabio Zangrandi, Paola Menegon, Antonio Toniato, Paolo Feltracco, and Maria Rosa Pelizzo.
• Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, 3rd Clinic of General Surgery, University of Padua, Italy. bernante@hotmail.com
• Obes Surg. 2003 Dec 1;13(6):951-3.

BackgroundThe 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.MethodsAn 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.ResultsNo 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.ConclusionPropofol, 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.

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