Is heartburn irritating you: the discomfort, the lack of sleep, the changes to your diet and your lifestyle? Pills for reflux may only be providing symptomatic relief for a problem that may continue to worsen.

Now people who suffer from chronic acid reflux, also known as Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease or (GERD) have a new option to relieve their heartburn symptoms. Doctors at North Central Baptist Hospital and Baptist Medical Center downtown are the first to offer the TIF (Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication) procedure for the treatment of GERD. The incisionless TIF procedure is a nearly non-invasive treatment for GERD that helps sufferers get back to living.

Clinical studies show that at two years after the TIF procedure nearly 80% of patients are off their daily reflux medications and can eat and drink foods and beverages they avoided for many years.  Reflux no longer impacts their life.

Many patients take reflux medications which suppress acid production to help relieve their heartburn symptoms and are still unable to eat the foods they want or have to sleep sitting up to reduce nighttime reflux. Recent studies have shown that long term use of these medications can lead to inadequate absorption of minerals such as calcium leading to bone fractures. They can also interact with other prescription medications reducing their effectiveness.

In a healthy person, there is a natural valve between the esophagus and the stomach that forms a physical barrier preventing stomach fluids from backwashing, or “refluxing,” up into the esophagus. “In a patient with chronic GERD, this valve has become dysfunctional,” explains George Tuchsen, M.D., who performs the procedure at North Central Baptist Hospital.

“The TIF procedure reconstructs the valve between the esophagus and the stomach to prevent reflux. It is based on the same well proven principles of conventional more invasive laparoscopic GERD surgery. TIF’s advantage is that it is ‘surgery from within’ performed transorally (through the mouth).    Because the procedure is incisionless, there is reduced pain, no visible scar and most patients can get back to their normal activities within a few days.”

With millions of Americans diagnosed with GERD and not fully satisfied with their treatment options, the TIF procedure offers an excellent alternative.

North Central Baptist Hospital is hosting a FREE seminar on GERD:


For more information or if you or someone you know suffers with chronic GERD and would like more information about how TIF can get you back to living without the pills and without heartburn, call 297-7005.