Stretta Therapy for Acid Reflux
If drug therapy hasn't alleviated your GERD or you'd prefer not to proceed with more invasive surgical treatments, Stretta may be right for you.
Stretta therapy is a minimally invasive procedure that significantly reduces GERD symptoms, allowing most patients to stop or significantly decrease their use of medication (proton pump inhibitors). It is an effective alternative to invasive surgery or implants if drug therapy has failed or is hard to tolerate, and it provides symptom relief for up to 10 years.
Stretta treats the underlying problem that may cause GERD. It delivers radiofrequency energy to the muscle between the stomach and esophagus, which remodels and improves the muscle tissue, resulting in improved barrier function and fewer reflux events.
Stretta has the lowest complication rate of any non-medical treatment for GERD. In clinical trials, up to 93% of patients were satisfied with the outcome of their Stretta therapy and up to 86% of patients remained off daily GERD medications four years after their Stretta procedure. The Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons recently published a Clinical Spotlight Review Guideline that strongly recommended Stretta for the treatment of GERD based on their analysis of clinical evidence.
Preparation/Procedure
Stretta therapy is an outpatient procedure performed under sedation in approximately 60 minutes. It does not require incisions, stitches or implants. Your doctor will provide specific instructions about eating drinking, taking prescription medicines and other preparations for your procedure.
Recovery
You will be monitored until most of the sedative’s effects have worn off. You may experience mild pain immediately after Stretta therapy; in most cases, it can be managed with over-the-counter medication such as liquid acetaminophen. Your doctor will advise you about food intake and whether to continue your previous medication. Most patients return to normal activities the following day.
Results
Every patient is different in their response to Stretta therapy. Some patients see improvement more quickly than others, and studies show the symptoms may continue to improve for six months or longer.
Information/Appointment
If drug therapy hasn't alleviated your GERD or you'd prefer not to proceed with more invasive surgical treatments, find out if Stretta is right for you. For more information, please call 304.691.1000.
Source: www.stretta-therapy.com