Published: May 08, 2004 - 02:04:50 pm EDT

New procedure could spell end of reflux
By Emily Soccorsy, Independent Newspapers

Dr. Steven Zierer is one of three doctors who are performing a new procedure, called Stretta, at Banner Baywood Medical Center. The procedure ends the pain of acid reflux. Photo by Emily Soccorsy/Independent Newspapers
Now appearing in medicine chests across the country - Prilosec, Pepcid and Nexium.

Medical professionals estimate about 25 percent of American adults suffer from acid reflux disease.

For people tired of popping pills every day to control their condition, Banner Baywood Medical Center is one of only two medical institutions in the state that offers a surgical alternative.

The Stretta procedure is an endoscopic, outpatient procedure that uses a balloon catheter to tighten the sphincter muscles at the top of the stomach, therefore greatly reducing, if not eliminating, acid reflux.

Dr. Steven Zierer is one of three doctors who began performing the procedure earlier this year.

He recommends the procedure for patients who have mild to moderate cases of acid reflux, and who are tired of the daily medications they must consume to control symptoms.

"It's intended for people with small hiatal hernias, who seem to be responding to medication but don't want to take medication for the rest of their lives," Dr. Zierer said. "It's all about giving people a better quality of life."

If patients have already tried the usual lifestyle changes recommended to control acid reflux - and they are only somewhat effective, the Stretta procedure could be an alternative.

"With this type of procedure, patients can truly enhance their lifestyle. It gives them an alternative to medications," said Debi Bradley, RN, Banner Baywood's Endoscopy Department clinical coordinator.

Since the procedure was approved by the FDA in 2000, about 10 patients have undergone the procedure at Banner Baywood. But early results are promising, Dr. Zierer said. It is now the most well-studied endoscopic method of treating reflux disease.

Brooke Engstrom, a senior at Mountain View High School, was one of those patients.

At age 18, she was in constant pain from acid reflux.

"Before I was usually up all night with lots of stomach pain," she said. "I would always be at the nurse's office at school."

Brooke said her pain was constant. She was constantly taking medication to stop symptoms and had a severely restricted diet.

"It always hurt," she said. "I was taking twice the normal dosage for all the medication I had."

When she heard about the Stretta procedure, she was willing to give it a try.

"I was in so much pain I was willing to do anything to have it stop," Brooke said.

The procedure turned out to be fairly easy for Brooke. She had it done on a Thursday and returned to school the following Monday.

"It was real easy, it was easier than having the flu," she said. "I went from being in constant pain to, really, no pain."

The Stretta procedure requires only conscious sedation and is commonly followed by short term side effects such as chest pain, or temporary difficult swallowing.

"Basically, it's nothing like undergoing surgery and they do resume their usual activities right away," Dr. Zierer said.

One other benefit: those who suffer from chronic acid reflux are likely to have considerable damage over time that can lead to worsening asthma, difficulty swallowing, chest pain, or even cancer of the esophagus or larynx. For those who have the Stretta procedure, those risks are considerably reduced and could be eliminated altogether.

"You could potentially avoid complications of reflux," Dr. Zierer said.

Since the Stretta procedure is newer, individual patients should consult with their insurance companies to determine if the procedure is covered.

"I tried to stay pretty active before, and stuff like that, but I would always have to sit out because I would have pain," Brooke recalled. "But now I just go at it full force."