Acid Reflux Relief
If dietary changes and medication do not effectively deal with your moderate to severe chronic acid reflux, we may have the solution.
TIF (transoral incisionless fundoplication) is a revolutionary treatment for safely and effectively treating chronic acid reflux disease, also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). TIF reconstructs the anti-reflux barrier between the stomach and esophagus to provide a solution to the anatomical cause 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.
TIF is performed endoscopically using the innovative EsophyX surgical device. In clinical studies, 79 percent of patients remained off daily PPIs (proton pump inhibitors) and 93 percent experienced a total elimination of heartburn at two years after the TIF procedure.
About Chronic Acid Reflux
If you have heartburn or reflux twice a week or more, you may have 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.
Revolutionary TIF Procedure
TIF was developed to emulate more invasive surgical techniques, but from within and completely without incisions and visible scars. Using the FDA-cleared EsophyX 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 follow a liquid diet and soft foods for about two weeks, and most are able to resume normal activities within only a few days.
Traditional Treatments
GERD today is typically treated with medications such as histamine receptor antagonists (H2 blockers), such as Pepcid, Tagamet and Zantac, and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), such as Nexium, Prilosec and Protonix. 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.
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.
Schedule a Consultation
Contact our North Knoxville location today to schedule a consultation or request an appointment online.