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Surgery without incision available at EJCH
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June 24, 2009
JOHNS CREEK – Jackson Slappy, MD, board certified surgeon at Emory Johns Creek Hospital performed the city's first incisionless surgery this week. The new Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication procedure or TIF®, for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can significantly improve the quality of life for our patients, said Slappy.
"GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) is traditionally treated with reflux medications that can help relieve symptoms, but don't solve the underlying anatomical problems that cause the disease," according to Slappy. Recent studies have shown that reflux medications (proton pump inhibitors or PPIs) interfere with Plavix and long term use of those medications can lead to inadequate absorption of minerals such as calcium and can result in bone fractures.
"Many patients with chronic sinus infections, or reactive airway disease actually have reflux disease as the source of their problems. GERD is an anatomical problem which needs an anatomical solution," he added.
The TIF procedure represents the next step in the evolution of surgery. Laparoscopy reduced the skin incisions typical of open surgery to a minimally invasive three-to-five port holes. However, laparoscopy still involves the same internal incisions and organ dissection as open surgery. TIF requires neither internal incisions nor dissection. With millions of Americans diagnosed with GERD, and not fully satisfied with their treatment options, this TIF procedure available at Emory Johns Creek is an excellent alternative.
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