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UAE: Procedure promises permanent relief from acid reflux

Dubai - This method has a success rate of almost 95 per cent.

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A new, non-invasive procedure that can be done in just 20 minutes with no scalpels, no stitches, and no scars, promises permanent relief for thousands of UAE residents suffering from acid reflux disease.

Dr Emad Fayyad, Consultant Gastroenterology, Medcare Hospital — Al Safa has performed the UAE’s first endoscopic fundoplication procedure to treat Gestroesophageal Reflux Disease (Gerd) and helped patients — mostly in the age group of 25-45 ­— get rid of acute acidity, acid reflux and regurgitation.

While traditionally patients were given tablets to subside their stomach acid or had to undergo a laproscopic procedure whereby four holes were made in their abdomen, the new treatment is a painless, endoscopic intervention with a disposable and sophisticated device called GerdX. “The single-use device has a camera that goes through the mouth through which the doctor sees the defect and rectifies it. This is done from inside the abdomen without making any incision. This method has a success rate of almost 95 per cent,” Dr Fayyad explained

The procedure is completed in just 20 minutes and patients are discharged on the same day as against laparoscopic procedures which took almost an hour and would take patients around seven days to recover and start eating properly.

Explaining the dangers of popping heartburn tablets for long, which most Gerd patients do, Dr Fayyad said: “Taking medication for Gerd can lead to other complications like vitamin deficiency, iron deficiency, alzheimer’s disease, dementia, osteoporosis, fatigue, chronic renal failure, infection in small intestine and pneumonia.”

Doctors warn recurring acid reflux could be a sign you suffer from Gerd . If left unchecked, the seemingly harmless disease can lead to esophageal cancer.

saman@khaleejtimes.com

• Healthcare in the UAE