Transoral incisional fundoplication (TIF) – A non-surgical treatment option for GORD

If you’ve exhausted your GORD medication options, and want a long-lasting solution that doesn’t require surgery, TIF could be for you.

Find out more about transoral incisional fundoplication (TIF) in this informative article by consultant gastroenterologist and interventional endoscopist Dr Vinay Sehgal.

What can happen if GORD is left untreated?

Troublesome symptoms including frequent heartburn and regurgitation is often caused by gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD), and if it’s left untreated, it can lead to precancerous change in the oesophagus called Barrett’s Oesophagus.

Therefore, the significant negative adverse effects on an increasing number of patients’ quality of life aren’t surprising, with the latest figures suggesting that almost one in six people suffer with GORD.

What are the limitations of GORD medication and surgery options?

The main treatment for GORD are proton pump inhibitors (PPI’s), and although they are usually effective, they fail to tackle the underlying cause of reflux.

Furthermore, they are subject to increasing concerns regarding potential side-effects of their long-term use. And while GORD can be treated by anti-reflux surgery, it’s associated with complications including dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), bloating and even recurrence of GORD.

What is transoral incisional fundoplication (TIF) and its benefits?

TIF is a non-surgical endoscopic treatment option for a significant proportion of GORD patients. The procedure is performed via endoscopy, restoring the normal anatomy of the gastro-oesophageal junction (GOJ) whilst avoiding the side-effects that surgery can cause.

It’s been shown in longer-term studies that TIF can resolve symptoms in almost 90 per cent of patients of whom more than two third no longer required regular PPI’s. The procedure usually only takes 45 minutes and is performed safely under general anaesthesia, and most patients can go home after an overnight stay.  

Visit Dr Sehgal’s Top Doctors profile to arrange a consultant with this leading gastroenterology specialist.