Newly Approved Treatment for Acid Reflux Disease Available
Mayo Clinic in Florida will be one of the first health care institutions in the United States to offer a newly approved device to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The condition, also known as acid reflux disease, can lead to serious health problems.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the device and treatment procedure on March 22 for patients with GERD who continue to have chronic reflux symptoms despite taking medication.
Mayo Clinic in Florida expects to offer the new treatment immediately, says C. Daniel Smith, M.D., chair of the Surgery Department at Mayo Clinic in Florida, and an internationally recognized expert on the treatment of GERD.
Dr. Smith is experienced in using the system because Mayo Clinic in Florida was one of only 14 centers nationally that participated in a clinical trial that led to the FDA’s approval of the device.
“Mayo has been a leader in the treatment of esophageal diseases, especially GERD, and we are pleased to be offering this new treatment to our patients immediately,” he says.
GERD is a condition in which liquid, or food, in the stomach flows back up into the esophagus due to the inability of a ring of muscle between the lower esophagus and the top of the stomach to close properly.
Heartburn acid reflux disease is one of the common problem in which an individual uses to get the ascent of acid and What is the Cure of Heartburn Acid Reflux Disease?contents present in the stomach to his mouth or throat. There are several elements in this condition which are modifiable and could be prevented. This problem not only occurs in adults, but also impacts the younger children as well. The problem is really developed due to the regurgitation of acid and contents of stomach inside the esophagus and sometimes they reach in the mouth cavity. If this condition happens frequently, it may produce damages in trachea and esophagus. There are several cures available in the market in order to tackle the heartburn acid reflux disease. For treating heartburn acid reflux disease effectively, it is necessary to know the causes of this condition.
Major Causes of Heartburn Acid Reflux Disease
It is required to take the proper acid reflux diet especially by those individuals, who frequently suffer from this illness due to the intake of food items. Heartburn acid reflux disease is commonly developed due to various external factors like the types of food items that an individual eats, the condition of the stomach including both inner and outer side and stressful situations, etc.
Oily, heavy and spicy meals may frequently develop heartburn acid reflux disease since the stomach could not digest these food items easily. Taking these food items in a large amount maximizes the trouble for the stomach since taking meal in large quantities initiates the problem as well. The situation of the stomach means the actual state which is affected by tight clothing and poor sitting posture. Heartburn acid reflux disease can also be developed by any improper sitting posture which impacts the digestion of the food badly.
If drugs aimed at neutralizing the acid in the stomach fails to prevent GERD, an operation designed to correct the mechanical defect is considered. But between 1.5 million and 2 million patients of those patients could benefit from treatment that is much less complex than current surgical options, Dr. Smith says.
“The new system will offer a long-needed treatment option for a large group of underserved patients,” he says.
The results of the clinical study that led to approval of the device have not yet been published. But “the data presented to the FDA revealed striking results when compared to other GERD treatments that have been investigated over the past 20 years,” Dr. Smith says. “The system offers effective control of GERD with limited side effects and thus far an excellent safety record.”
- Most important aspect of the GERD treatment is to recreate the patients dietary habits. Here the patient is advised to completely refrain from spicy food, alcohol, coffee, vitamin supplements, fats and even cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower. The number of meals taken should be more but the quantity of each meal has to be minimal to prevent overeating and filling up the stomach. Smokers need to quit smoking as nicotine and other toxins can increase the GERD condition.
- Next in the agenda for treating GERD is to work on developing correct body postures so as to prevent contracting or squeezing the esophageal area resulting into GERD. Slouching and other bad postures are strictly no-no. To enhance correct body posture exercises should become a part of our routine.
- Then there are few medicines or drugs that reduces the secretion of more than required acid in the stomach. these drugs which do have serious side effects, block the activities of cell surface molecules also called the proton-pumps in the stomach lining. Proton pumps function with the positively charged hydrogen ions to create the acid, thus the use of proton pump inhibitors for treatment.
- Many a times doctors prescribe antacid for mild GERD cases as these reduces the acidity level in the stomach by increasing the PH level. However its important to check if the antacid taken has calcium as that can further aggravate the GERD condition.
The implanted device is a ring of tiny magnetic titanium beads that is wrapped around the junction between the stomach and esophagus, serving as a mechanical augmentation of the lower esophageal sphincter (the ring of muscle). The magnetic attraction between the beads is strong enough to keep the sphincter closed to refluxing acid, but weak enough so that food can pass through it into the stomach, Dr. Smith says. The device can be implanted using minimally invasive surgery methods.
Dr. Smith performs about 200 GERD-related surgeries a year and has been involved with many new treatments over the past several decades. “I expect this device to be a game changer for the treatment of GERD in select patients who have failed management with drugs,” says Dr. Smith.
Ken DeVault, M.D., chair of the Department of Internal Medicine at Mayo Clinic in Florida, also participated in these studies. “I have many patients who are searching for something more than medication for their reflux, but have been hesitant to undergo a traditional reflux surgery,” he says. “I think this procedure may well be a very attractive option for that group.”
Drs. Smith and DeVault were consultants to the company that developed the device and participated in the research study. Mayo Clinic licensed related technology to the company in exchange for equity.
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