Stretta
Stretta® Therapy is an other minimally invasive treatment for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), the condition that causes chronic heartburn and regurgitation. If you are taking prescription anti-reflux medications such as proton pump inhibitors [PPIs] (Prilosec, Prevacid, Nexium, etc.) or H2-receptor antagonist drugs (Tagamet, Zantac, Pepcid), and you are not achieving good control of your symptoms, you may benefit from additional therapies that may be available to you, such as Stretta Therapy.
Stretta is a minimally invasive, outpatient procedure that takes approximately 60 minutes to perform. Patients usually receive conscious sedation (the same sedation used for your endoscopy procedure) and an instrument is passed through the mouth, so there are no visible cuts or scars that result from the procedure. Through a special tube, a special type of energy is delivered to the deep muscle layer of the lower esophageal sphincter that is responsible for preventing reflux. Through a remodeling process, the muscle becomes less floppy (compliant) thereby improving function.
Patients typically go home 1-2 hours after the procedure with the help of a friend or family member. Most patients are able to return to work and their normal activities a few days after treatment, so there is minimal interruption in everyday life. Clinical studies on Stretta have shown that the majority of patients are off their daily acid lowering drugs (PPIs) at 4-years. Most patients experience a significant improvement in GERD symptoms lasting from 4-10 years.
Additionally, if you suffer from GERD related to having had sleeve gastrectomy or gastric bypass surgery, Stretta is the only nonsurgical, endoscopic option for treating GERD in this setting because medications are generally ineffective and additional, invasive surgery is often considered complex and risky.
