Plicator

Hi everybody,

I am new....has anyone on this site had a proceedure don called (Plicator)? if so are there any side effects or is it risky & dangerous?

This is the first time I've seen anyone mention the term Plicator on this board so I thought posting a description of the procedure might be informative to all - especially those that are looking for alternatives to the Nissen procedure.

The Plicator is a non-surgical, pre-tied implant system designed to tighten the stomach's opening to the esophagus and restore the natural anti-reflux barriers.

The Plicator is passed through your mouth down to the opening of your stomach. The Plicator arms then grasp the tissue just below your esophagus and secure the pre-tied implant to the stomach wall creating a barrier between your esophagus and the acid flow from your stomach. The entire procedure takes less than 30 minutes.

Patients go home the same day and usually resume their normal activities the following day.
The procedure is minimally invasive and does not require hospital stay or general anesthesia.
Clinical evaluations have shown a significant reduction of GERD symptoms including heart burn and regurgitation.
Patients significantly reduce (or eliminate) proton pump inhibitor (PPI) medications and antacids use after the procedure.
The Plicator technology gives your doctor direct visualization of the procedure.

Patients must recover from the effects of mild sedation, which usually last a day.
Reported side effects include minor chest pain.

The Plicator procedure may not be available to all patients, especially if you are pregnant or suffering from a hiatal hernia larger than 2 cm. Your physician can determine if the Plicator system is an appropriate treatment option for you.