Dr. David Carroll of Surgical Specialists of Jackson, Miss., offers a completely noninvasive procedure to treat GERD that requires no injection, cutting or penetration of the skin. It is called transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF) surgery with the EsophyX device. Dr. Carroll says he has performed the procedure many times laparoscopically over the past 15 years, but the new EsophyX device allows him to perform the surgery using an endoscope inserted through the patients’ mouths.

“It developed over the last several years. The results are really good,” Dr. Carroll told the Clarion Ledger. He performed the first TIF with the EsophyX in Mississippi on 46-year-old Connie Braswell of Pearl, Miss. Braswell had treated her GERD symptoms for years with Nexium, but last year her symptoms worsened. “It got to the point where I was burping every day, all day long. It was very irritating,” she says.

Two gasterenterologists and two general practitioners tried her on various medications, including Reglan (metoclopramide), but nothing worked. She began restricting her diet, giving up dairy products, spicy food, coffee, and her beloved Dr. Pepper. She shed 28 pounds in the process, but she wasn’t happy. She missed the foods she used to enjoy.

Then Dr. Carroll told her about the new, noninvasive procedure using the EsophyX device, and it changed her life. “I prayed and prayed to get better and nothing else worked,” she says. “and this is working.”

Pictured are Dr. David Carroll, Dr. Jeffrey Glover and Dr. David Miller of Surgical Specialists of Jackson.

SOURCE: Reglan Side Effects › Non-surgical procedure offers hope to patients with GERD

The study, conducted by researchers from Copenhagen University, involved 120 healthy participants who took either an inactive placebo or 40 mg of the PPI drugs daily for three months. Each patient filled out a Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale weekly to gauge symptoms. Researchers found that a greater percentage of people taking the PPI experienced at least one worrisome acid-related symptom during the treatment than those taking a placebo.

“We find it highly likely that the symptoms observed in this trial are caused by rebound acid hypersecretion and that this phenomenon is equally relevant in patients treated long term with PPIs. If rebound acid hypersecretion induces acid-related symptoms, this might lead to PPI dependency. Our results justify the speculation that PPI dependency could be one of the explanations for the rapidly and continuously increasing use of PPIs,” said Dr. Christian Reimer, the study’s lead author.

These findings show that safe treatment options for people suffering from GERD are limited. Earlier this year, Reglan (metoclopramide), another treatment for the condition, received a black box warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) after numerous reports that people taking Reglan began to suffer suffer from a serious, involuntary movement disorder known as Tardive Dyskinesia. The black box warning advises that the medication not be taken for more than 12 weeks as the risk of contracting the disorder increases to about 20 percent among those taking the drug long term.

Experts advise suffers of GERD should consult with their physicians to find the safest treatment options.

SOURCE: Reglan Side Effects › Heartburn, GERD treatments linked to serious complications