Acid Reflux Relief
If you have heartburn or reflux twice a week or more, you may have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Heartburn is the most common symptom, but you may also experience:
- Hoarseness or sore throat
- Frequent swallowing
- Asthma or asthma-like symptoms
- Pain or discomfort in the chest
- Sleep disruption (unable to sleep lying down)
- Bloating
- Excessive clearing of the throat
- Persistent cough
- Burning in the mouth or throat
- Intolerance of certain foods
- Dental erosions or therapy-resistant gum disease or inflammation
Normally, after swallowing, a valve between the esophagus and stomach opens to allow food to pass and then closes to prevent stomach contents from "refluxing" back into the esophagus. For people who suffer from GERD, the valve is dysfunctional and unable to prevent acid from refluxing into the esophagus, thus a burning sensation in the chest.
Traditional Treatments
GERD today is typically treated with medications such as histamine receptor antagonists (H2 blockers) and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). These medications can lose their effectiveness over time. They also don't treat the underlying root causes of reflux, the deteriorated anatomy of the antireflux barrier, so life-long medication therapy is required. In addition, recent studies on the adverse effects of long-term use of PPIs indicate a significantly higher incidence of hip fractures, particularly among women.
If dietary changes and medication do not effectively deal with your moderate to severe chronic acid reflux, we offer surgical solutions that aim to recreate the natural valve that stops fluids from the stomach refluxing back to the esophagus. Depending on the specific cause of your chronic acid reflux, you may benefit from laparoscopic repair using traditional or robotic techniques or TIF (Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication), which is for patients with reflux, but no hiatal hernia.
Traditional laparoscopic surgical treatment, though effective, is invasive and usually includes hospital stays for up to several days. For that reason, the number of GERD sufferers who pursue the traditional surgical treatment for chronic acid reflux is relatively small.
Robot-Assisted Antireflux Surgery
Robot-assisted surgery offers several advantages including faster recoveries, less pain, less operating time, and better visualization with high resolution 3D optics. The technology allows surgeons to do more difficult cases, including repairs for patients with large hernias and scar tissue from previous operations.
Using an advanced surgical system, your surgeon can benefit from enhanced surgical accuracy utilizing high-definition 3D vision and a magnified operating view. Your doctor controls the system, which translates his or her hand movements into smaller, more precise movements of tiny instruments inside your body. Though it is often called a robot, the system cannot act on its own; the surgery is performed entirely by your doctor.
Together, this technology allows your doctor to perform complex procedures through just a few tiny openings. As a result patients are often able to get back to their daily routines faster — without the usual recovery for traditional surgeries.
TIF Procedure
TIF (transoral incisionless fundoplication) is a treatment for safely and effectively treating chronic acid reflux disease. TIF reconstructs the anti-reflux barrier between the stomach and esophagus to provide a solution to the anatomical cause of GERD - without incisions.
The procedure is for patients who are dissatisfied with current pharmaceutical therapies or are concerned about the long-term effects of daily use of reflux medications. While it is a good treatment for reflux, it does not repair a hiatal hernia.
TIF was developed to emulate more invasive surgical techniques, but from within and completely without incisions and visible scars. Using an advanced device, the procedure is performed through the mouth, rather than through an abdominal incision. Typically lasting no more than 50-60 minutes, the procedure is performed under general anesthesia and reconstructs the antireflux barrier to restore the competency of the gastroesophageal junction.
Because there are no incisions, recovery time is much shorter than traditional surgery. Patients typically spend one night in the hospital and follow a liquid diet and soft foods for about two weeks. Most are able to resume normal activities within only a few days.