Overview

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, also known as GERD is one of the most common chronic diseases in the Western World. GERD has a tremendous adverse impact on a person's quality of life and has additional associated risks, including esophageal cancer. There are several types of treatment alternatives available for GERD including medication and surgery. Medigus' landmark endoscopic device – SRS offers a unique treatment approach. Medigus endoscopic procedure offers an incsion-less procedure, which is less-invasive than conventional surgery. As opposed to surgery, the SRS is inserted into the body through the mouth and with the aid of a camera, stapler and additional unique technologies, provides a swift treatment for GERD, similar to that of current surgery. If you would be interested in participating in the clinical trials (in and out of USA) and would like to learn whether you might be a candidate for this investigational treatment, please see additional details at: Clinical trials Note: Investigational device – limited by U.S. Federal Law to investigational Use Only. Not for sale in the US

Treatment Options

There are a number of treatment options available for GERD. Lifestyle Change Changes in behavior and lifestyle change may lead to suppression of GERD symptoms. Such changes may include different diets, avoiding large meals and provocative food and drink, as well as recommended physical activities. Drug Therapy There are different types of drugs that may reduce or minimize GERD symptoms, most of which involve life-long use, and they include: Antacids Antacids are available without a prescription (over the counter). They work to relieve heartburn by neutralizing acid in the stomach. H2 Blockers H2 blockers reduce the amount of acid produced in the stomach by blocking a signal that leads to acid production. Proton Pump Inhibitors Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are designed to prevent the release of acid in the stomach. Inhibition of gastric acid secretion makes gastric juice less injurious to the esophageal mucosa, but does not stop reflux. H2-receptor antagonists (H2A) and proton pump inhibitors (PPI) can be effective and doses are flexible to cope with differing severity of disease. However, as many as 15% of patients will fail to heal on standard dosage of the most effective drug, even on the highest dose of the most effective drug. Surgical Treatment of GERD Surgery for GERD is indicated for patients who do not respond well to medical therapy, who have complications of gastroesophageal reflux, who do not comply with medical therapy, and who are unable to stop medical treatment without developing recurrence of their symptoms. The expense of long term medical therapy and the uncertainty of sequelae of chronic proton pump inhibitor treatment also lead patients to consider surgery. Surgical procedures are designed to correct gastresophageal reflux by creating a new functional lower esophageal sphincter (LES). The most popular approach is the Nissen fundoplication, or a modification of this technique. In Nissen’s fundoplication, the fundus of the stomach is wrapped around the distal esophagus. Since the wrap is still part of the stomach, any pressure rise inside the stomach is transmitted to the wrap and tightens the lower esophageal sphincter. This procedure effectively prevents reflux. Fundoplication can be performed by either a traditional open surgery or laparoscopically. Endoscopic Procedures The endoscopic solutions for GERD thus far are extremely unsatisfactory and do not provide the desirable solution for GERD. Most of the previously and currently presented endoluminal procedures have tried to narrow the lower Esophageal Spincter with different types of techniques and technologies (radio-frequency, suturing, etc.). The Medigus' SRS procedure, in contrast, performs the same acceptable and effective surgery procedure, but with no incision, through the mouth, offering in essence, the same outcome as surgery. Indeed, to date, the Medigus' SRS procedure is the only endoluminal procedure which offers a viable endoscopic solution to GERD symptoms with equivalent results to those of the invasive laparoscopic or open surgery.

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