The University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) is one of 15 specialized sites across the U.S. and Europe gearing up to trial a new implantable device that could bring relief to the estimated 25 million American adults who suffer from daily heartburn.
Chronic heartburn - technically titled gastroesophogeal reflux disease, or GERD - occurs when the stomach's acidic juices backflow into the esophagus, stirring an uncomfortable burning sensation just below the breast bone. Though a muscular ring, or sphincter, usually tightens to clamp off this backsplash, in some people this natural "plumbing" is faulty: the seal is weak, or the sphincter relaxes when it shouldn't.
"Numerous over-the-counter antacids and prescription drugs have taken aim at alleviating the symptoms, neutralizing the acids," said Jeffrey H. Peters, M.D., Seymour I. Schwartz Professor and chair of the Department of Surgery, who will lead the trial at the URMC site. "But this device tackles the root of the problem, working to squeeze the problematic sphincter itself and restore the barrier between these two organs."
While GERD is rarely life-threatening, its pain can derail some patients' daily routines, and in select cases, frequent reflux can cause serious damage to the skin-like surface of the esophagus - a condition called Barrett's esophagus, which carries a low-risk for esophageal cancer. As the incidence of GERD is on the rise, with some research pointing to possible ties to the mounting international obesity epidemic, Peters said efforts to manage the condition have become increasingly significant.