Recently my doctor suggested I undergo Esophyx to
treat my reflux. What do you think? I am also diabetic
The Esophyx is an endoscopic procedure inserted via
the mouth into the stomach. It folds the tissue at the base of the stomach so
that now there is a new valve, which prevents acid from refluxing back into the
esophagus. The procedure is done under direct visualization during endoscopy
and requires general anesthesia. It is an outpatient procedure and said to work
right away. The majority of patients are able to resume their daily living
activities within a few days. Over the following several weeks, the newly
created valve fuses with surrounding tissues to form a good antireflux barrier
So should diabetics go for it?
In my opinion, definitely not.
There are no long-term data on this procedure. No one knows how long its
benefits last and what the adverse effects are. No one even knows if the
procedure can be safely reversed if it does not work. So far, this method of
treating GERD is only for patients who have failed drug therapy.
Even though a lot of hype has been
made about the success of this procedure, diabetics should beware that
everything new is not always better. In addition, this treatment is not a cheap
undertaking –most likely to cost several thousand dollars.
For diabetic patients who have
GERD, there are many ways to prevent progression of GERD. Some things one can
do 1) is to maintain a healthy weight, 2) avoid tight fitting clothes, 3) avoid
foods that trigger heartburn, 4) eating smaller meals and 5) elevating the head
of the bed. Finally one should quit smoking.
It is important to remember that just because a new
procedure is available does not always mean it works. Much of medicine is
practiced for financial reasons, irrespective of its benefits.
