Researchers examined the effectiveness of transoral incisionless fundoplication in controlling symptoms associated with chronic refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease, according to a poster presented at ACG 2018, Oct. 5-10 in Philadelphia.
Researchers examined 41 patients with a long history of GERD. The patients had a TIF procedure and researchers measured patient satisfaction both pre- and postsurgery using the GERD Health Related Quality of Life Questionnaire.
Here's what they found:
1. Patients reported quality of life scores of 35.09 pre-TIF and 17.56 post-TIF.
2. Patient symptoms also decreased. Pre-TIF scores were 8.09, while post-TIF scores were 5.63.
3. At short-term follow-up, TIF eliminated the need for proton pump inhibitor therapy in most patients.
4. For patients who went back on acid suppressants, quality of life improved.
Researchers concluded the study indicates "TIF's superiority to conventional medical therapy and its effectiveness in yielding significant improvement in patients with refractory GERD symptoms."