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Montefiore Physicians Providing New Minimally Invasive Treatment For Gastroespohical Reflux Disease

BRONX, NY (March 2002) - Doctors at Montefiore Medical Center are using a new radio-frequency procedure to treat patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The minimally invasive procedure, called Stretta, is an alternative to medication and surgery.

"Stretta is an excellent, state-of-the-art procedure for patients who have severe or bothersome GERD and who are not satisfied with medical treatment," said Aaron Tokayer, MD, a gastroenterology specialist who performs the procedure at Montefiore Medical Center. “After Strettatreatment, which takes less than an hour, approximately 70 percent of the patients are expected to no longer require medications or need only minor doses to control their reflux and symptoms.”

The Stretta procedure targets tissue at the junction between the esophagus and stomach. The treatment enhances the tissue’s strength and corrects its tendency to relax inappropriately, an activity that allows reflux of gastric acid and juices back into the esophagus.

Every month, approximately 40 percent of Americans experience some form of reflux, in which acid from the stomach regurgitates into the lower esophagus. Most people have just a few of these events, but when they became recurrent or excessive, it can lead to symptoms that compromise lifestyle and comfort, according to Dr. Tokayer.

How Stretta Works
With the assistance of an endoscope, physicians insert a catheter with a tiny balloon tip past the mouth, down the throat and into the lower esophagus and upper stomach of the patient. Radio-frequency energy is then applied in a controlled way, causing tiny burns in the muscle tissue of the lower esophagus and upper stomach. When the treated tissue heals, a process that occurs gradually over several months, the valve tightens and prevents or limits reflux. The procedure also corrects the neural reflexes that cause the tissue’s inappropriate relaxation.

Patients without significant or large hiatal hernias are best suited for this procedure. If a large hiatal hernia is present, a surgical option is likely to be more appropriate.

Dr. Tokayer is director of the Motility Section in the Division of Gastroenterology at Montefiore Medical Center.

Montefiore Medical Center, The University Hospital and Academic Medical Center for the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, is an internationally recognized leader in patient care, education, research and community services. Montefiore provides treatment programs for patients with all major illnesses and has distinguished centers of excellence in heart care, cancer care, children’s health, women’s health and surgery.

Stretta is a trademarked name of Curon Medical, Inc.