Boston -- October 26, 2009 -- A new, incisionless alternative to laparoscopic and traditional surgery is now a viable option for treatment of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Using the new procedure known as Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication, surgeons can repair or reconstruct the valve between the oesophagus and stomach, effectively stopping GERD. Surgeons are able to pass surgical instruments together with an endoscope through a patient's mouth and tighten or repair the weakened valve without making any incisions into the skin.
"Compared to laparoscopic or traditional surgery, patients treated via the endoscope have required less anaesthesia and experienced less complication rates, shorter hospital stays and faster recovery, reduced patient discomfort, and no need for incisions," said Miguel Burch, MD, Co-Director of Esophageal and Acid Reflux Disorders, Center for Digestive Disorders, Boston Medical Center (BMC), Boston, Massachusetts. "Patients are typically able to return home and to normal activities the day following the procedure," he added.
Complications associated with untreated GERD are well documented and can have a significant impact on quality of life and, in extreme cases, life expectancy.
"While over-the-counter medications may alleviate the symptoms, by decreasing production of stomach acid, they don't solve the anatomical problem, and reflux [without acid] can still continue causing injury but without symptoms to warn the patient," said Hiran Fernando, MD, Minimally Invasive Thoracic Surgery, BMC. "For patients who are dissatisfied with pharmaceutical therapies and are concerned about the long-term effects of over-the counter medications, this procedure may be the answer," added Dr. Fernando.
According to the BMC surgeons, anatomical correction is key to long-term prevention of GERD and disease progression. Unfortunately, they say even laparoscopic surgical repair can be invasive and may be associated with side effects like gas bloat and difficulty swallowing. For this reason, less than 1% of GERD patients currently choose invasive surgical therapy to treat their condition.
SOURCE: Boston University Medical Center
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