Every day, more than 20 percent of the U.S. population experiences the painful burning symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). For these 20 million Americans, the first line of defense is medication. To find a long-term, permanent solution for this nagging condition, the Center for the Future of Surgery at UC San Diego Medical Center is leading a multicenter clinical trial to test the safety and effectiveness of a new incisionless GERD treatment.
"Patients who suffer from GERD find themselves dealing with a debilitating lifelong condition that puts them at risk for a precancerous condition known as Barrett's esophagus," said Santiago Horgan, MD, chief of minimally invasive surgery at UC San Diego Medical Center. "Because GERD is caused by an anatomical abnormality, medication is a temporary aid - only surgery can truly correct the problem. The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate a scarless technique that eliminates the defect and restores the esophagus to normal function."
GERD is a progressive disease resulting from a weak muscle in the lower esophagus, the organ which passes food to the stomach. When this muscle functions properly, it acts as a protective valve between the esophagus and the stomach, allowing food and liquid to pass, but preventing the reflux or back up of acidic stomach contents. In patients with GERD, the valve is weak or nonfunctional, allowing movement of stomach acids in the wrong direction. The result is often burning pain and ultimately damage to the digestive tract.