Woodland Heights Medical Center Offers New Robotic Procedure to Stop Acid Reflux
12/14/2023
Lufkin, TX – Woodland Heights Medical Center announced they are the first facility to use a new management system to combat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The procedure offers relief from acid reflux without the need for daily medication.
According to the National Institute of Health, approximately 20% of Americans suffer from GERD, a long-lasting condition in which gastroesophageal reflux causes repeated symptoms that are bothersome or can lead to complications. Without treatment, GERD can sometimes cause complications such as esophagitis, esophageal stricture and Barrett’s esophagus, as well as complications outside of the esophagus.
Darry Meyer, D.O., general surgeon, was the first in Lufkin to perform this procedure. “With chronic reflux disease impacting so many, this procedure can make a major impact on the quality of life for those suffering,” states Dr. Meyer. “Utilizing the robotic surgery system for this procedure, we are able to provide our patients with a same day discharge, fast recovery time and they are able to resume a normal diet immediately.”
The management system is a small band of magnetized titanium beads wrapped around the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) that helps prevent gastric acids from pushing back up into the esophagus from the stomach; however it safely allows the LES to open when need to allow for easy swallowing when needed. This procedure can also be done on patients who have undergone a gastric sleeve procedure, which is helpful as approximately 30% of gastric sleeve patients may experience new acid reflux symptoms.
Woodland Heights Medical Center offers the only local heartburn center where they are able to evaluate, diagnose and treat gastroesophageal reflux disease. In addition to this new management system, the facility also offers esophageal manometry and PH monitoring for the evaluation of GERD. “We are proud to add this new technology to the other procedures offered to treat reflux disease as we strive to continuously provide quality care to our patients,” states Dr. Meyer.
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Read more about the management system used to combat GERD.
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