Innovative TIF Procedure Helps People with Acid Reflux
Call it what you will, frequent heartburn or indigestion, acid reflux is a serious problem for millions of people. A new procedure is helping people who once felt hopeless facing it.
“More than 60 million people face acid reflux, and more than 15 million people have it every day,” said David Ring, MD, a general surgeon with Avera Medical Group Aberdeen Surgical Associates. “Patients who have this procedure can have as much as an 85–90% reduction in acid.”
Patients as young as 18 and as old as 85 who have reflux have found relief with this approach. It helps alleviate reflux, even in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a severe form of reflux.
Ring, who is also a hyperbaric treatment specialist, is among the first physicians in South Dakota to offer what’s called transoral incisionless fundoplication or TIF.
“It’s newer, but studies show it works,” he said.
How the TIF Procedure Stops Heartburn Symptoms
When stomach acid flows back up the esophagus, it creates a burning feeling in the chest. It can cause other problems, too.
“Many people with reflux have near constant coughs or throat-clearing problems,” Ring said. “It affects sleep, quality of life, and people struggle greatly to control it.” The TIF procedure offers an alternative to daily or regular use of acid-reducing medications, such as brands like Prilosec or Nexium.
A surgical device attached to an endoscopy camera is used for TIF, and it has gripping and fastening devices. Using these, the surgeon can repair or recreate the valve that stops acid from moving up from the stomach to the esophagus.
Some 20 small fasteners are used to create a 270-degree closure. Ring said a past procedure created a valve with three larger points. The new TIF method is superior.
“The older approach created a valve that was nearly too much for many people,” he said. “It could lead to problems with swallowing and when a patient would have to vomit or belch.”
What Patients Getting TIF Experience
If you have struggled with acid reflux and tried to control it with medication, your primary care provider is where to start with questions. They can refer you to a specialist.
Some people have a part of their stomach that protrudes through the diaphragm muscle. This condition is called a hiatal hernia. Ring said when hiatal hernia and reflux are both present, the hernia must be treated with surgery before the TIF procedure can take place. People who have a BMI of 40 or higher will likely need to lose weight or an alternative treatment before they would be considered for TIF procedures, too.
The process is straightforward:
- Patients enter a procedure room
- They receive general anesthesia through an IV
- The doctor uses a scope that goes into the patient’s mouth
- The scope has a camera and the TIF device is used complete the procedure
- When done, patients go home one to two hours later
Recovery from Procedure Requires Time
While the TIF procedure doesn’t include incisions and is less invasive than many surgeries, patients will need to alter their diet for several weeks.
“You can only have clear liquids for the first one or two days after the procedure,” Ring said. “After that, you’ll remain on liquids only for about five more days.”
Gradually, you can return to softer foods as the valve heals.
“The recovery features discomfort, but not the pain that comes with some surgeries,” Ring said. “Going through the liquid-only diet is challenging, yet you can get great relief from acid reflux.”
Ask your primary care provider about ways you can overcome acid reflux.
