Minimally Invasive, Advanced Treatment Available for GERD Patients

MaineGeneral can help you find relief and get to the root cause of your heartburn with a new minimally invasive procedure with no incisions.

The procedure, called TIF (Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication), treats heartburn at its source, reconstructing the valve that prevents acid from flowing back from the stomach into the esophagus. This process restores your body’s natural protection against acid reflux.

If you have moderate to severe acid reflux, have relied on PPIs or other medications for years, or want to reduce the risks and long-term side effects of more traditional surgical options, TIF may be right for you.

TIF restores the body’s natural protection against reflux. It is performed endoscopically through the mouth. No incisions are needed unless additional treatments are being performed, such as a hiatal hernia repair. If needed, the hernia repair can be done laparoscopically immediately before the TIF procedure in the same anesthesia setting.

Benefits include:

• Faster recovery

• No increased gas or bloating

• More than 80 percent of patients can stop reflux medication in one year

This is just one of the treatment options for patients with chronic heartburn. Talk to your doctor about getting a referral to the MaineGeneral Heartburn Center to see what treatment is best for you.

Watch MaineGeneral Gastroenterology’s Joan Kheder, MD, to learn more about TIF as a treatment for heartburn (GERD).