Sixty (60) million Americans experience heartburn monthly
and 15-25 million have daily heartburn. About 19 million take
medication for heartburn at least twice weekly. If you have
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, also known as GERD, you know
what it’s like to suffer from the burning discomfort of acid
reflux. You may also know what it is like to experience
- Difficult and/or painful swallowing
- Chest Pain
- Coughing or wheezing
- Hoarseness
- Sore throat
GERD is caused by the reflux, or backflow, of stomach acid
up into the esophagus (the tube that connects your mouth with
your stomach). In many patients, this backflow occurs because
the gate or valve (referred to as a sphincter) separating
the stomach from the esophagus relaxes. This relaxation allows
acid to flow out of the stomach up into your esophagus, where
it causes burning sensations and other symptoms. In most cases,
GERD is a chronic condition that requires some type of long-term,
if not life-long, medical attention. Traditional treatments
have included life style modifications, medications, and surgery.
Normally, the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES) prevents gastric
acid from refluxing into the esophagus and irritating the
esophageal lining. However, heartburn occurs when the LES
relaxes too frequently and it’s resting pressure drops, allowing
the reflux.
The medical community has long sought to develop better procedures
that are less invasive than current methods. The advancement
of the flexible endoscope and certain endoscopic procedures
has prompted the development of an endoscopic suturing device
which can offer advantages over the current anti-reflux surgeries
without the significant and not infrequent risks associated
with these procedures and normally without the requirements
of general anesthesia.