and European medical centers to test the device prior to its March 2012 approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. “These results show that there is another option for the millions of people suffering from chronic reflux,” Lipham said. “Currently, the Keck Medical Center of USC is one of only 30 sites in the country certified to implant the device.” The LINX Reflux Management System, manufactured by Minnesota-based Torax Medical, Inc., is like a bracelet made up of magnetic, titanium beads implanted around the end of the esophagus, where the lower esophageal sphincter is located. The lower esophageal sphincter is the valve that prevents reflux, and GERD develops when this valve is weakened. Implantation of the device is potentially an outpatient procedure that can be completed in 15 to 20 minutes, Lipham said. Lipham and his colleagues assessed 100 patients with GERD before and after surgery, finding that acid reflux decreased, reflux symptoms improved and the use of medication to manage those symptoms decreased for most patients. Severe regurgitation was eliminated in all patients. More than 9 in 10 patients reported satisfaction with their overall condition after having the procedure, compared to 13 percent before treatment while taking medication. Follow-up studies are still required to assess long-term safety. Lipham says the LINX device is best for patients with mild to moderate reflux that cannot be adequately controlled by medication or for patients who do not want to take medication to manage the disease. More than 60 million Americans experience heartburn at least once a month and some studies have suggested that more than 15 million experience heartburn symptoms every day, according to the American College of Gastroenterology. Surgical treatment of reflux disease had been limited to a procedure called a Nissen fundoplication, which involves recreating the esophageal sphincter. While fundoplication is recommended for those with severe reflux, it is a complicated procedure that prevents the ability to belch or vomit and often leads to bloating or gas problems.
home site http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130225092254.htm
When a baby spits up, it may not be acid reflux disease
Uncomplicated gastrointestinal reflux (GER), marked by the constant regurgitation or spitting up of stomach contents and sometimes accompanied by other symptoms including coughing, hiccups, vomiting, and irritability occurs in more than 60% of otherwise healthy infants and is the topic of discussion with pediatricians at 25% of all routine six-month doctor visits, says the report in the May issue of Pediatrics, published online today. “Having an infant who regurgitates regularly, regardless of whether they might have some worrisome symptoms such as coughing, choking or irritability to go along with it, can pose concern and a lot of hurdles for families until the child grows out of the problem,” says pediatric gastroenterologist David Gremse, a professor at the University of South Alabama Medical School and co-author of the study. But research shows that most infants outgrow symptoms by about 1 year, says Gremse. According to one survey, the condition “tends to peak at 3 to 4 months of age and then starts to decline after that,” he says. A more problematic condition, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) affects a much smaller percentage of infants; symptoms include regurgitation, vomiting and irritability, but also refusal to eat, poor weight gain, indications of stomach ache and sleep disturbances. “These children oftentimes do benefit from acid suppression medication to control symptoms and heal any acid damage to the esophagus that may be present,” says Gremse. He notes, however, that other conditions, such as colic and irritability from milk protein intolerance also can produce some of these symptoms. There’s no indication that infant reflux is becoming more common, although for school-age children “obesity makes reflux a lot worse because it increases pressure on your belly,” says Carlo Di Lorenzo, a pediatric gastroenterologist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. He was not involved in study. Children born with birth defects affecting the esophagus are at a much higher risk of having GERD, as are children with some chronic respiratory conditions such as cystic fibrosis, and babies born with neurologic impairments, the report says. It also addresses “some of the potential over-prescribing of the strongest acid blockers, such as protein pump inhibitors,” in the treatment of infants and young children,” says Gremse. The report encourages pediatricians to follow guidelines developed by the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition when diagnosing and treating reflux conditions. It recommends lifestyle changes, which can include feeding and/or position changes as first-line therapy for both conditions, while medications are explicitly indicated only for patients diagnosed with GERD. Giving infants smaller but more frequent feedings and making sure nursing mothers limit spicy and fatty foods and caffeine “can often make a big difference,” Gremse says.
this page http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/04/29/infants-reflux-gerd-ger/2113727/
My Own Wonderful Blog 
Recent Comments