In the United States, approximately 40 percent of adults suffer from heartburn at least once a month.
Most people treat heartburn with antacids or other oral medications, trying to control the problem.
GERD occurs when the muscle ring that joins the esophagus and the stomach relaxes more than it should, allowing stomach acid to flow back into the esophagus. It is then positioned at the junction of the esophagus and stomach, where sutures are applied to tighten the muscle ring. This procedure is performed on an outpatient basis, under sedation and requires approximately 45 minutes to complete. Afterwards, the patient may resume a regular diet and exercise. While the long-term outcome for patients treated with this new device and procedure is not known, available information from similar studies in England show promising results.