Incisionless Surgery

Using EsophyX™ TIF

Step 1: The specially designed EsophyX device enters the esophagus through the mouth and is positioned at the junction of the stomach and esophagus.
Step 2: The EsophyX device pulls and fastens a tissue fold
Step 3: Step 2 is repeated multiple times to reconstruct a robust, tight valve that prevents the reflux of stomach contents up into the esophagus, resulting in the effective elimination of GERD.

Other Resources

Advanced Surgeons, P.C | Birmingham Alabama | GERD Information

What Is GERD?

GastroEsophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), also referred to as heartburn, is reflux and regurgitation of the contents of the stomach into the esophagus that is frequent and severe enough to impact daily life and may even damage the esophagus. Normally, after swallowing, a valve between the esophagus and stomach opens to allow food to pass into the stomach, then closes to prevent reflux of the food back into the esophagus. In GERD, this valve is weakened or absent, causing the acidic digestive juices from the stomach to flow back (or reflux) into the esophagus.

The esophagus is not designed to handle the acidic environment of the stomach. This reflux is not only painful and uncomfortable, but can burn the esophagus, cause chronic inflammation, and can lead to major damage and cancer of the esophagus. GERD is one of the most common diseases, with over 60 million Americans experiencing symptoms at least once a month. Over 60% of the elderly have frequent GERD, and over 14 million Americans have GERD so frequently and severely that they experience symptoms every single day. EndoGastric Solutions is committed to helping people with GERD find long-term solutions through minimally invasive devices and procedures.

Benefits of EsophyX™

The EsophyX™ Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication (TIF) procedure is a novel surgical procedure for the treatment of reflux disease. The TIF procedure is based on the principles of surgical repair of the antireflux barrier and is intended to deliver similar benefits as the time-proven laparoscopic fundoplication.

The TIF procedure reconstructs a robust antireflux barrier, thus restoring the gastroesophageal junction back to what is believed to be its natural anatomical geometry. TIF results in established parameters of antireflux surgery such as:

Omega-shaped valve, 3-5 cm in length
Restored angle of His
Use of proprietary fastener technology that mirrors results of proven surgical suturing technique
Reduction of hiatal hernia
Serosa-to-serosa fusion

Approximately 14 million Americans experience symptoms of GERD, including heartburn and esophageal inflammation, on a daily basis. Most manage their disease with medications such as H2 blockers and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). Since pharmacological therapy does not treat the underlying root causes of reflux, the deteriorated anatomy of the antireflux barrier, life-long medication therapy is required. Although surgery is highly effective, it is also very invasive, despite the laparoscopic surgical approach. For this reason, less than 1% of the patients choose surgical therapy to repair the anatomical defect(s) that cause GERD.