A Surgical Option For Acid Reflux
Frank Robson
Acid reflux is a problem that stays with someone for life. It's caused by a weak lower esophageal sphincter and allows fluids to rise from the stomach into the esophagus which cause corrosive damage because of the acid content.
The most common symptom of acid reflux is the agony of heartburn, but there are other health risks associated with it such as Barrett's esophagus, erosive esophagitis and esophageal cancer.
There is light on the horizon, however. There's a new surgical procedure that is starting to get some traction for dealing with acid reflux. It's known as the Plicator procedure and only takes about twenty minutes to complete. Sounds too good to be true, doesn't it? Here is a basic explanation of what happen during the procedure.
- The Plicator, which is a small electronic device, is placed on the end of an endoscopy tube. Endoscopies are a simple procedure performed by doctors in which a tube is lowered into the digestive tract via the mouth while the patient is in a state of conscious sedation.
- Once the Plicator reaches the stomach, it is used to grab the tissue located between the stomach and the esophagus. It then closes its "arms", crimping the tissue. A suture is placed to hold the tissue in place.
- This results in a tighter opening between the stomach and esophagus, helping the lower esophageal sphincter to maintain the passageway more easily.
Those who undergo this procedure usually don't experience any unwanted side effects, and are often back to their normal activities the following day. Several studies have been done to measure the effectiveness of the procedure for eliminating heartburn.
The studies showed that the need for prescription heartburn medications was eliminated in 70 percent of all patients who underwent the procedure! Also, 80 percent of all patients undergoing the surgery saw a lessened amount of reflux post-procedure. After undergoing the surgery, patients are often advised to follow a diet of soft foods for a few days while the suture sets.
The effects of the surgery are seen very quickly. Within several days following the procedure, most people were able to decrease their heartburn medication. Sore throats and abdominal pain occurred in some patients, but only lasted for a few days. If this sounds like a procedure that would help you with your acid reflux, talk to your doctor about it and get their informed advice.
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