| For many people suffering from acid reflux, surgery is | | | | approximately 81% of those who undergo the |
| a last but sometime only option for finding relief. | | | | radiofrequency procedure remain symptom-free for at |
| Fortunately, numerous advancements have been | | | | least three years following the procedure. Some |
| made in the area of acid reflux surgery. Whereas | | | | patients do experience chest or stomach pain after |
| fundoplication was once a highly invasive procedure | | | | the procedure, however, and there have been some |
| that involved making numerous incisions, | | | | reports of hemorrhage. |
| advancements in surgical technique have made it | | | | Dilation Procedure |
| possible to complete the procedure in a far less | | | | Another surgical option for those suffering from acid |
| invasive manner. Here is a look at some of the surgical | | | | reflux is to undergo a dilation procedure. With this |
| techniques that are currently being implemented in | | | | procedure, the abnormally narrow portions of the |
| order to achieve great results while reducing the | | | | esophagus are dilated by inflating a balloon through |
| complications associated with acid reflux surgery. | | | | endoscopy. Most patients who undergo the dilation |
| Transoral Flexible Endoscopic Suturing | | | | procedure need to undergo a series of procedures in |
| One of the advancements that has helped improve | | | | order to fully dilate the passageway and get it open to |
| the effectiveness of acid reflux surgery while reducing | | | | the point necessary for relief. In addition to assisting |
| complications is transoral flexible endoscopic suturing. | | | | with treatment of acid reflux, research has shown that |
| Also referred to as the Bard's procedure, this involves | | | | patients who undergo the dilation process often enjoy |
| using a thin, flexible tube known as an endoscope. The | | | | relief from swallowing problems associated with the |
| endoscopic device, which resembles a mini sewing | | | | traditional fundoplication procedure. |
| machine, is used to place sutures in two places near | | | | Implants |
| the LES. The device then ties the sutures together in | | | | Implants have also been used in the past to treat |
| order to tighten the valve, which increases the | | | | people suffering with reflux. This procedure, which is |
| pressure and ultimately reduces the occurrence of | | | | known as the Enteryx procedure, involves making |
| acid reflux. With the endoscopic procedure, it is | | | | injections to relieve the symptoms associated with |
| possible to completely avoid making incisions while also | | | | acid reflux. This procedure has been removed from |
| completing the procedure without having to undergo | | | | the market, however, due to problems associated with |
| general anesthesia. | | | | the injection technique. |
| Radiofrequency | | | | Endoscopic Ablation Treatment |
| Radiofrequency, which is also referred to as the | | | | During the fundoplication procedure, the surgeon may |
| Stretta procedure, is another procedure that has | | | | also implement an endoscopic ablation treatment. This |
| helped make reflux surgery more effective and less | | | | treatment, which is performed in order to stop bleeding, |
| risky. With this procedure, the tip of the needle actually | | | | involves applying either heat or electricity to the |
| has radiofrequency energy. This energy heats and | | | | affected area. This procedure is also completed with |
| destroys the tissue in the area where the problem is | | | | an edoscopic tube, which means it is minor invasive |
| located within the esophagus. According to research, | | | | procedure. |