The neurogastrointestinal team crafts personalized treatment plans for every patient with gastrointestinal neuromotility disorders, addressing their specific condition, individual health needs, lifestyle and goals.
Transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF) is a minimally invasive procedure that helps us treat chronic acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in patients who do not respond to medication and lifestyle changes.
This involves reinforcing the muscular valve between the stomach and esophagus so it does not allow stomach acid to back up in the esophagus, causing GERD symptoms. Using an endoscope inserted down the throat while you are under anesthesia, the specialist takes tissue from the fundus, or the top of the stomach, and folds it around the esophagus to tighten the valve and allow it to close properly. The fold is held in place with special fasteners or surgical staples.
There are no external incisions needed for TIF, which takes about an hour to complete. Most patients will be discharged within a day and quickly resume normal activities.
TIF can also help patients with a hiatal hernia, in which the top of the stomach bulges into the esophagus through an opening in the diaphragm.