NorthValley Hospital has news for those who suffer with daily heartburnor other symptoms of reflux such as regurgitation, chronic cough,hoarseness and dental erosions.  

Dr.Ryan Gunlikson offers a new surgical procedure requiring noincision that provides an anatomical cure. 

Untilnow, reflux sufferers faced either daily medications with oftenincomplete resolution of their symptoms or the risks of invasivesurgery.  

Nowthey have a better option with Transoral IncisionlessFundoplication, a procedure performed through the mouth to repairthe antireflux barrier.

According to a pressrelease from North Valley Hospital, Gunlikson is the firstspecialist in Montana to be trained on the procedure.  

“TheTIF procedure can significantly improve quality of life for ourpatients,” Gunlikson said.  “Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease is ananatomical problem which needs an anatomical solution.”

Thephysician said that reflux medication such as proton pumpinhibitors can help relieve patients’ heartburn symptoms butdoesn’t solve the underlying anatomical problems or prevent furtherdisease progression. Even when using these medications, manypatients still are unable to eat the foods they want or have tosleep sitting up to reduce nighttime reflux, Gunliksonsaid.

Recent studies alsohave shown that longterm use of proton pump inhibitors can lead toinadequate absorption of minerals such as calcium and can result inbone fractures. Clinical trials show that after the new procedure,most patients can eat and drink foods they avoided for many years. 

Thissurgery is based on established principles of repair of theantireflux barrier, except that it is “surgery from within”performed through the mouth. the procedure reduces hiatal herniasand creates a valve between the stomach and esophagus restoring thenatural, physiological anatomy to prevent reflux.  

Because theprocedure is incisionless, there is reduced pain, faster recoveryand no visible scar. Gunlikson said.  

Laparoscopy orminimally invasive surgery typically requires three to five portholes and the same internal incisions and organ disruption as opensurgery.  This requires neither abdominal incisions nor internaldissection. 

“Recent studies showthat TIF can reduce patients’ dependency on medications with 79percent of patients remaining off their daily medications after twoyears and experiencing a dramatic improvement in their quality oflife,”  Gunlikson said.

JasonSpring, chief executive officer of North Valley Hospital, calledthis procedure a great complement to North Valley’s single-incisionlaparoscopic surgeries and minimally invasive robot-assistedsurgical procedures offered for urological and gynecologicalpatients since early this year.