EsophyX Offered to Help Patients With Acid Reflux

EsophyX Offered to Help Patients With Acid Reflux

Imagine a volcano erupting from your stomach into your throat. It’s not enjoyable. Unfortunately, many with acid reflux know this feeling all too well. When the lower esophageal valve doesn’t tighten enough, acid can reflux from the stomach into the esophagus. This may cause heartburn or a burning sensation in the throat and chest.

Reflux is a common condition caused by acid that escapes from the stomach. It is estimated that 10 to 15% of the adult population suffers from reflux every day.  Symptoms include:

• A burning feeling in the chest
• Belching
• Pain in the upper abdomen
• Worsening of the above symptoms when bending over or lying down
• Chronic cough and hoarseness

Ochsner Medical Center – Baton Rouge offers an incisionless surgical treatment called EsophyX TIF (transoral incisionless fundoplication) for regular heartburn. EsophyX TIF is a surgical procedure performed through the mouth, which reconstructs the barrier between the stomach and esophagus to prevent stomach fluids from refluxing up into the esophagus. EsophyX TIF is completely incisionless so it has less risk, reduced recovery time and no visible scar.

While under anesthesia the flexible EsophyX device is gently lowered through the mouth into the stomach under the visualization of an endoscope "video" placed down the shaft of the device. Once inside the stomach, the surgeon manipulates the device to create a tight sealing valve and hold it in place with suture-like fasteners.

Most patients return to work the next day or within a few days following their EsophyX TIF procedure. Patients will likely experience some manageable discomfort in their chest, nose, throat and stomach for the first few days to a week. Patients will be asked to restrict physical activity for the first week and will be given dietary guidelines to help maximize their success while their new anti-reflux valve heals.

Recent studies have shown that TIF patients reported 80% improvement in quality of life, significantly improved satisfaction and reduction/elimination of heartburn symptoms. All patients discontinued medication after the TIF procedure and 79% were still completely off daily medication two years after the procedure.

 If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, you can visit ochner.org or call 225-435-4261.