Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication (TIF) with EsophyX® Procedure Q&A

Are you experiencing symptoms such as heartburn, chest pain, or acid regurgitation? Get relief from GERD with the TIF procedure as Dr. Alfred Johnson MD offers safe and effective TIF procedures in Merced, CA, and surrounding areas. Dr. Johnson has specialization in initial surgical management of GERD and in the surgical management of patients who have failed a previous anti-reflux procedure. For more information, contact us or schedule an appointment. We are conveniently located at 240 East 13th Street Merced, CA 95341.

For most people, changing their lifestyle is enough to control the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). However, for some, the frequent heartburn, difficulty swallowing, and other unpleasant symptoms aren’t affected by these changes. Sometimes, medication isn’t enough, and surgery is necessary. Traditionally, surgery for GERD is invasive and unpleasant, but Dr. Alfred M. Johnson provides Merced, CA and the nearby region with a minimally invasive treatment known as Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication (TIF®) with EsophyX®.

About GERD

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a condition that occurs when acid from your stomach flows into your esophagus. The acid irritates your esophageal lining and causes symptoms like the following:

• Chest pain
• Heartburn that tends to arise after eating
• Rifting up a sour-tasting liquid
• Regurgitating food
• Lump in your throat feeling
• Chronic cough
• Laryngitis
• Difficulty sleeping/sleep disruption

GERD happens as the result of a weakened valve in between your stomach and esophagus. This valve is supposed to prohibit food and acid from going in the opposite direction, but when it’s weak, it doesn’t do its job properly.

About Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication (TIF®) with EsophyX®

After our surgeon confirms surgery is the ideal option for your particular cases, he’ll discuss with you Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication (TIF®) with EsophyX®. This procedure is classified as minimally invasive. It doesn’t require any incisions. Instead, our surgeon accesses your stomach through your esophagus using an endoscope.

During the procedure, he uses a specialized device inserted through your esophagus with the endoscope. Our surgeon alters the stomach to correct issues with the weakened valve. He uses the EsophyX device to re-create the flap valve between the esophagus and stomach. This prohibits acid and food from flowing in the wrong direction.

Benefits of Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication (TIF®) with EsophyX®

The concept of the procedure has been in use for over 50 years. However, traditional procedures, although they can be done in a minimally invasive fashion, require the surgeon to create a bigger twist of the stomach. While making a bigger twist of the stomach is effective in controlling some reflux symptoms, there are other undesirable symptoms which occur with it such as difficulty swallowing, gas bloat or the inability to vomit. After you have had a Nissen fundoplication, if you ever have a condition which would normally cause you to vomit, you will have a tube placed through your nose into the stomach to relieve the pressure. It is therefore extremely important to notify medical personnel that you have had a previous Nissen fundoplication. This never happens after the TIF procedure.

The simplest way to think of the TIF procedure is to think of converting the shape of the esophagus and stomach from a funnel to a flask. A funnel has no natural barrier to gastric content moving upward whereas a flask has a kink which limits how much gastric content can move backward into the esophagus and therefore acts as a valve. The TIF procedure therefore allows the surgeon to re-create the body’s own anti-reflux valve by restoring the angle of His.

Most patients can go home on the same day when they undergo an incisionless fundoplication. If you require repair of a hiatal hernia which is done robotically, you might also go home on the same day but on rare occasions, depending on your underlying medical problems you may spend one night in the hospital. Within a few days, you’re able to perform your usual activities. On the other hand, with traditional fundoplication, you spent more than one night in the hospital, and your activities are limited much longer.

It doesn’t require any incisions, so you won’t have scarring. Unlike traditional fundoplication, you won’t have an increase in bloating, flatulence, or belching. You won’t have any metal implants either.

For more information, call us or schedule an appointment, or visit our clinic conveniently located at 240 East 13th Street Merced, CA 95341. We look forward to serving you! We serve patients from Merced CA, Atwater CA, Winton CA, Bear Creek CA, Planada CA, Le Grand CA, and Athlone CA.