Chronic heartburn has taken its hold on over 60 million people in the United States and has had severe side effects for many. Gastroesophiageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is a condition that can make eating a daunting task; can interrupt sleep with rising acid in the throat, and cause excruciating pain in the chest.

Symptoms of GERD can start as simple heartburn, and progressively get worse as time goes on, with additional symptoms ranging from sore throat, to persistent cough and asthma-like symptoms. Historically, the symptoms of GERD have been treated, not the condition itself, by the use of medications such as proton pump inhibitors which reduce acid production in the stomach. For many, the idea of life-long medication to simply mask the issues associated with GERD, is disappointing, both financially and medically.



TIF (Transoral Inciscionless Fundoplication) surgery has been introduced as a solution to chronic GERD, helping to reverse, or completely cease, a person's dependency on medication to manage GERD. TIF surgery is incisionless, and accesses the stomach through the esophagus to reconstruct the digestive system's antireflux barrier. In doing this, a patient's body now has a make-shift valve system functioning in the stomach to keep acids out of the esophagus. TIF surgery can be performed as an outpatient procedure, and only requires general anesthesia.

A number of studies have been done leading up to the approval of TIF surgery. Collectively, the studies each found an approximate70% success rate of GERD remission with surgery, and a low rate of people who continued to have ongoing GERD (approximately 8%). The remainder of patients had drastically reduced symptoms of GERD, and a lessened need for medication.

To learn more about GERD surgery, visit http://www.byegerd.com.

References (N4E5VRM7Q7WZ)

Barnes WE, Hoddinott KM, Mundy S, Williams M. Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication Offers High Patient Satisfaction and Relief of Therapy-Resistant Typical and Atypical Symptoms of GERD in Community Practice. [Abstract] Surg Innov. 2011 Feb 22. Livingston Hospital and Healthcare Services, Inc, Salem, KY, USA. PMID:21307014

Bell RC, Freeman KD. Clinical and pH-metric outcomes of transoral esophagogastric fundoplication for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease. [Abstract] Surg Endosc. 2010 Dec 8. Swedish Medical Center & SurgOne, P.C., 401 W. Hampden Place, Suite 230, Englewood, CO, 80110, USA, rbell@surgone.com. PMID:21140170

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