Has anyone had the new esophyx procedure?

Good Morning Monte and welcome to HealingWell.
Normally the stomach contents are retained in the stomach by a valve called the Lower Esophageal Sphincter or LES for short. This valve opens to allow food to pass into the stomach when swallowing, and then closes to prevent the contents from re-entering the esophagus.

Surgical treatment has long been known to be a more permanent and effective treatment for GERD, with the most common surgical treatment being Nissen Fundoplication.

This brings us to the latest technology EsophyX the newest and most effective treatment for GERD. This pioneering new system developed by Endogastric Solutions Inc.uses trans-oral endoscopy techniques. Thus the instruments are passed through the mouth to the stomach using an endoscope

This clever device allows Gastroenterologists and Surgeons to mold what is essentially a new valve using a small section of the stomach tissue. The procedure is performed under general anaesthetic but involves no surgery; instead, an endoscope. ^{Reference: Medical Dictionary 2006 Edition.}

I wish you the best and hope you are able to talk through the pros and cons of the procedure with your GI Physician.

Kitt 

I also had the lap Nissen with a very good result.  I think I had mine in 2005 or 2006 and it has made a tremendous difference for me.

Carla

Good luck with your decision.

Hi tsquared,

Good luck with your Dr. visit.  I hope he gives you encouraging information.

After I am completely healed, I was thinking of pursuing a lap Nissen.  I just need to verify that it is possible to have one, after an esophyx procedure.  I live in New Jersey.  Do you mind if I ask what state your surgeon is in?  Do you know how many lap Nissens he has performed and how many of his patients had LPR?

There are 3 doctors in the US that do the esophyx procedure.  They are in Florida, NY and Ohio.  My Dr. performed the procedure on 20 people prior to me, and he said they were all feeling better (either off meds, or had reduced their meds).  He told me after the procedure that my LES valve was flat and that he created a new one with the endoscopic device.  I also had a small HH which he reduced.  He does not know why I did not improve.  He recommended I have another Bravo pH test to investigate if I still have acid reflux.  I just need to heal a bit more before I have it done.

I just found this link and was wondering what happened... did you go for the Esophyx? I'm in the process of deciding getting it done. Any advice would be most welcome.... Rick

Am I wrong in my assumption that things did not appear that successful at one time ? Whatever advice you would have for someone like me would be most welcome....

Hi Rbrunet,

Yes, you are correct.  For many months, I did not experience any symptom improvement in my LPR.  The one thing that did go away almost immediately after my Esophyx procedure, was the burning in my chest.  However, that symptom had always been relieved with Nexium, whereas the LPR was never relieved with Nexium.  Therefore, LPR symptoms were more distressing to me. What finally helped me was praacticing stress reduction techniques.  I know that this is going to sound crazy, but I read advice on another GERD forum where someone was recommending meditation as a tool for reducing Gerd symptoms. I have never in my life practiced any meditation , but I do have a lot of stress in my life. So, I thought I would give it a try.  I was skeptical but figured I had nothing to lose.

Then I recalled that several weeks prior to my esophyx procedure, my husband and I vacationed in Florida.  I had absolutely no GERD symptoms while on vacation, despite drinking coffee every day and eating chocolate.  My esophyx surgeon told me that prior to the esophyx procedure, my LES valve was flat.  So I cant explain why I felt so good on vacation, other than stress being a major contributor to my symptoms.  Currently, when my increase, I meditate for awhile and I feel better by the next day. 

I have no idea how long the esophyx procedure will be effective for me, or even if a re-do is possible.  I have read great things about Dr. Aye and the Hill Repair, but I live in NJ, and having surgery on the West Coast is not an option for me at my age (67).  I am so sorry that I cannot be of more help.  I wish you all the best with your decision.  Do you know if they can perform Esophyx on patients who have had the Nissen? 

Hi Rbrunet,

Forgot to mention the scientific evidence that Esophyx helped me.  I had endoscopy with 48 hr Bravo ph test performed both pre and post esophyx.  Both tests were done after I had been off Nexium for 2 weeks.  Pre esophyx indicated I had acid reflux...De Meester score was 38 (Day 1) and 32 (Day 2).  Normal is less than 14.7.  Post esophyx score was 5.2 on Day 1 and 12.9 on Day 2, indicating I no longer had an abnormal number of acid refluxes.  Also, my operative report (post esophyx) says that the lower esophageal sphincter valve was recreated by forming a valve with the Esophyx device it also says that endoscopy "revealed that the valve was tight around the scope with a grade 1 Hill grade."

Interestingly, my LPR symptoms begin in the afternoon.  I experience no symptoms at all within a few minutes after lying down, and during sleep.  One would think that gravity would cause my throatburn to get worse at night, but its just the opposite.

BTW, an unaticipated benefit of my meditating is that my chronic lower back pain is MUCH better.  I no longer have to see my chiropractor every week.

Hi Rick,

I had my procedure done in NY (out on Long Island at Mercy Medical Center in Rockville Center). I live in NJ.   My surgeon was Dr. Shawn Garber.  I did not know anyone who had used him, but there was no other Dr, in the North East, performing the procedure.  I researched his background as best I could and found no negatives. He went to Europe to be trained in the esophyx procedure.  He is a well respected bariatric surgeon with a very busy practice.  His office is always filled with patients, which I take to be a good sign.  He was on the Best Doctors in NY list.  I found him to be very nice, curteous, and did not rush me at all.  He answered every question I had and gave me a CD disc that explained the esophyx procedure, to view in my computer. I had absolutely no side effects from this procedure, except for a few days of a mild sore throat and mild shoulder pain.  I did have to be on a graduated soft food diet for a few months, following the procedure, but it was easy to follow. There is now a Dr. in NJ performing the procedure, but Dr. Garber has much more experience. When I saw him he told me (because I asked him) that he had performed the procedure on 20 patients.

Not all health insurance plans cover this procedure.  Fortunately for me, Medicare covered it.

Hi Rick,

Now I understand why your health ins. does not cover.  I am lucky that Medicare (government sponsered health Ins for those over 65) covered, because Medicare usually doesnt cover new procedures.

If you dont mind my asking, do you have any LPR symptoms, and were they helped by Nissen? My impression is that non-traditional heartburn symptoms such as LPR are less likely to be alleviated by meds or by any procedure.