WLBT 3 - Jackson, MS: Tif Procedure cures GERD

Tif Procedure cures GERD

By Stephanie Bell Flynt | email

FLOWOOD, MS (WLBT) - Mike Wolverton of Terry is being put to sleep, and when he wakes up, he should never again have to experience gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD. Dr. David Carroll describes how the acid has aggravated Wolverton's esophagus. "That's basically irritation from acid just continually coming up. It should be kind of pink. It's just irritated all the way up."

Dr. Carroll is a bariatric and vascular surgeon at River Oaks Hospital in Flowood. He said 10% to 15% of the population suffer from daily reflux, and people are at higher risk for it after the age of 40. It's also alarming to note that people with GERD are eight times more likely to get esophageal cancer. Dr. Carroll says people with GERD have a flaw in the anatomy of the connection between the esophagus and the stomach. The Z-line, as it's called, should have a rubber band type tension in it that will keep acid in the stomach and out of the esophagus. "Around the scope is the esophagus and that's the stomach pushed against the esophagus. So this is the position we want it to be in when we're done, but tighter," Dr. Carroll said.

The probe is being used to do what's known as the Tif Procedure through Wolverton mouth, so there are no incisions. But the work is tedious and can take up to a couple of hours to complete. Dr. Carroll will use the probe as his sizing measure to stitch the Z-line all the way around to a fold in the upper part of the stomach. After that, Dr. Carroll said Wolverton should never have to take reflux medication again.

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