MEDICAL
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Did holiday feasting put your heartburn in high gear? Are you ready to get rid of your gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) once and for all in 2012? Baylor Waxahachie can help you stop the GERD pain and pills for good through a new minimally invasive procedure. Many GERD sufferers control their heartburn and other GERD symptoms with lifestyle changes or over-the-counter or prescription medications. However, some people are concerned about the long-term effects of taking GERD medication for the rest of their lives or have not experienced the control they need with medication. “For some people, medication can control the heartburn caused by GERD, but they are still bothered by secondary symptoms such as nighttime aspiration and hoarseness,” said Watson Roye, M.D., surgeon on the medical staff at Baylor Waxahachie. Until now, the only other solution for those who wanted an option beyond medication was major surgery. A new, minimally invasive procedure called transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF) couples the long-lasting benefits of surgery with shorter, easier recovery time compared to other methods.
WRESTLING WITH REFLUX GERD is a condition in which the stomach contents (food or liquid) leak backwards from the stomach into the esophagus (the tube from the mouth to the stomach). This action can irritate the
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esophagus, causing heartburn and other uncomfortable symptoms. When you eat, food passes from the throat to the stomach through the esophagus (also called the food pipe or swallowing tube). Once food is in the stomach, a ring of muscle fibers prevents food from moving backward into the esophagus. These muscle fibers are called the lower esophageal sphincter. If this sphincter muscle doesn’t close well, food, liquid and stomach acid can leak back into the esophagus. This is called reflux or gastroesophageal reflux. This reflux may cause symptoms, or can even damage the esophagus.
BUILDING A BARRIER The TIF procedure corrects the root cause of GERD, an anatomical problem with the lower esophageal sphincter. During the completely incisionless procedure, a special tool called an EsophyX® is used to build a barrier that keeps acid out of the esophagus. Surgeons thread the tool through the patient’s mouth, down the esophagus and into the stomach. The tool uses tissue from part of the stomach to build a valve between the stomach and the esophagus, without an incision. “We actually take tissue from the top part of the stomach and pull it up onto the lower esophagus,” said Dr. Roye. “The procedure is performed under general anesthesia, and most people go home the next day and are back at work in a few days.”
STRONG RESULTS Once the patient recovers from the surgery, they can typically indulge in foods that might have triggered symptoms before, such as citrus, tomato sauce, carbonated drinks and coffee. They are also generally able to enjoy a late-night meal without experiencing heartburn at bedtime. Studies have found that almost 80 percent of people who undergo the TIF procedure are still free of acid-controlling medications two years later. “We’ve seen very good results with the TIF procedure, and I believe it is an excellent option for individuals with significant GERD symptoms,” said Dr. Roye. For a referral to a physician on the medical staff at Baylor Medical Center at Waxahachie who specializes in TIF, please call 1-800-4Baylor. Physicians are members of the medical staff at one of Baylor Health Care System’s subsidiary, community or affiliated medical centers and are neither employees nor agents of those medical centers, Baylor Medical Center at Waxahachie or Baylor Health Care System.
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Provides a long-term solution to GERD No external skin incisions—no scarring No internal cutting, which enables a quicker recovery Improves quality of life Lessens dependence on medication for heartburn relief Can be revised if required