Wendy DamonteChannel 2 News
Sandra Borras' life is about to change. She hoping after a 45 minute procedure she will finally be able to get a full night sleep and work in her yard. "I like to do yard work a lot. I'm always out in the yard, but when you have this pain in your chest it keeps you from being outdoors."
Sandra has acid reflux. She has for seven years. The pain in her chest prevents her from living her life to the fullest. And leaves her gasping for air throughout the night. Dr. Michael Murray, of Northern Nevada Surgical Group, explains acid reflux. "When the stomach acts as a pump it should squeeze and things should go into the intestines. But sometimes when those flap valves and the lower esophageal sphincter don't work properly it gets acid reflux back up into the esophagus."
Dr. Murray will be performing the TIF procedure on Sandra. It stands for Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication. "Now we can go in, no incisions, about 45 minutes wrap the stomach around their esophagus about a 270 degree wrap and that will stop the reflux, they can get off their medicine and they can get on with a better lifestyle."
The surgeons use a probe to go through Borras' mouth and down her esophagus to the point where it meets her stomach. Once Dr. Murray and Dr. McCormack identify the exact area to fix, they begin twisting the stomach, wrapping it around the esophagus. Once they've twisted enough, they fasten the stomach in its new position with surgical fastener similar to those that hold price tags on clothes.
Sandra will go home the same day as surgery. She can return to work in just a couple of days. And after a week on a liquid diet, she will return to normal foods and a more normal life back in her garden.
Dr. Murray will be on Ask the Doctor this coming Monday, May 14th to answer your questions about the TIF procedure. Call 858-2222 between 5-6pm Monday evening.
