Over 60 million Americans have heartburn at least once a month. Chances are, you're one of these Americans.
Dr. Starpoli's Blog
The Many Dangers (And Solutions) to Untreated Acid Reflux
Anthony A. Starpoli, MD | www.starpoli.com
Reflux, acid reflux, sleep disturbance, TIF, fundoplication, LINX, GERD, LPR, EsophyX, esophageal cancer, endoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, Barrett's Esophagus, Stretta
Incisionless Anti-reflux Therapy: a chance to stop your reflux drugs.
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is a life-affecting condition that affects as many as 20% of the population. Given the prevalence of GERD, the quest for suitable treatment methods has been a relentless one— but often to little effect.
Anthony A. Starpoli, MD | www.starpoli.com
Obesity, Reflux, fundoplication, atypical reflux, heartburn, EsophyX, incisionless surgery, GERD Awareness Week
Acid reflux, generally stated as Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), affecting around one-third of the American population. This disorder arises when the uppermost portion of the digestive region is not working accurately, causing stomach contents to move back into the esophagus. The most common symptoms of this disease is heartburn, the sensation of liquid or food coming up into the throat and a sour taste. The most effective therapy for relieving the symptoms of GERD is proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) such as lansoprazole, esomeprazole, and omeprazole. This is a class of medications which have emerged as the most effective therapy, improving life quality, healing and preventing the damage to the esophagus (1). PPIs work by obstructing an enzyme in the lining of the stomach which is essential for acid secretion. Side effects which some patients report comprise a headache, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, and nausea. They usually resolve on their own and patients can usually carry on taking their PPI medication (2). A different, incisionless, transoral endoscopic treatment has been developed to help correct the mechanical flaws of the valve between the lower esophagus and stomach that cause GERD.
Anthony A. Starpoli, MD | www.starpoli.com
EsophyX TIF Procedure is Superior to Maximum Dose PPI Therapy
As reported by Medscape, according to research presented at the Digestive Disease Week meeting, “patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) might benefit more from transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF) than from continued treatment with proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs).” The study’s lead author Karim Trad, MD, said, “In this study, transoral incisionless fundoplication was superior to maximal-dose PPIs in eliminating daily troublesome typical and atypical symptoms in selected patients.” Dr. Trad added that the findings “establish for the first time that, for some patients, the procedure is better than maximal-dose PPI therapy for controlling a range of GERD symptoms.”
Anthony A. Starpoli, MD | www.starpoli.com
hiatal hernia, fundoplication, LINX, GERD, atypical reflux, EsophyX, incisionless surgery, esophageal cancer
Anthony A. Starpoli, MD | www.starpoli.com
Obesity, GERD, atypical reflux, nonacid reflux, heartburn, EsophyX, incisionless surgery, Barrett's Esophagus
New Surgical Therapy for GERD: The LINX Magnetic Bracelet
A new laparoscopic therapy for reflux has been recently approved for the treat of reflux. The procedure requires laparoscopic surgery (small incisions in the abdomen) in order to place this new device at the level of the lower esophageal sphincter. Certain limitations will occur as the result of this procedure as will be discussed.
Anthony A. Starpoli, MD | www.starpoli.com
Reflux, hiatal hernia, TIF, LINX, GERD, atypical reflux, heartburn, EsophyX, Barrett's Esophagus
FDA Warns: Reflux Drug Therapy & Increased C. difficle Diarrhea
Several news agencies recently reported concerns of the FDA over the increased risk of Clostridium difficle diarrheal illness in patients using acid lowering antireflux drugs in the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Anthony A. Starpoli, MD | www.starpoli.com
Hybrid GERD Surgery Performed at NYU Langone Medical Center
On September 7th and October 13th, 2011, the first two combined laparoscopic and transoral antireflux procedures were performed at the New York Univerisity Langone Medical Center in New York City.
Anthony A. Starpoli, MD | www.starpoli.com
Reflux, hiatal hernia, TIF, fundoplication, GERD, LPR, atypical reflux, heartburn, EsophyX, Barrett's Esophagus
Much Greater Risk for Clostridium difficle with Reflux Therapy
In a retrospective study from Japan, the chronic use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), often used in the treatment of GERD, was found to be associated with a greater than 3-fold increased risk of developing Clostridium difficile–associated diarrhea (CDAD), Takatoshi Kitazawa, MD, assistant professor at Teikyo University in Tokyo, Japan, reported during a poster session at the 51st Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy.
Anthony A. Starpoli, MD | www.starpoli.com
Doctor Radio-SIRIUSXM and NYU Features Dr. Starpoli and TIF
Today Dr. Starpoli will be hosted on the Doctor Radio show to discuss GERD and transoral incisionless fundoplication with EsophyX. This procedure serves as an alternative to chronic, long-term drug therapy that millions of people world-wide must take to control their reflux. Given new information on the perils of long-term drug therapy for reflux, antireflux surgery is being more considered every day.
Doctor Radio is a groundbreaking 24/7 national radio channel featuring live,
call-in shows hosted by leading NYU Langone Medical Center doctors from a vast
array of fields including: child psychology and psychiatry; sexual health;
plastic surgery; emergency room medicine; cancer; heart health; women's health;
dermatology; pediatrics; men's health; diet and nutrition; sports medicine;
psychiatry; and more.
SIRIUSXM and NYU have built a state-of-the-art broadcasting studio
in the lobby of the Manhattan-based NYU Langone Medical Center, bringing
listeners right into the middle of the medical world.
Anthony A. Starpoli, MD | www.starpoli.com
TIF, doctor radio, GERD, atypical reflux, heartburn, EsophyX, Barrett's Esophagus