Washington, October 24 : Surgeons at the Ohio State University Medical Center have preformed the first incisionless surgery in the US by using a device known as EsophyX, approved by the Food and Drug Administration, to cure gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), also known as heartburn.

The surgeons have treated the first two patients in the country by using the device.

The mechanism, which is new in the US, has been proven safe and effective in patients treated throughout Europe for GERD.

According to the surgeons, the new procedure does not leave any scars and results in minimal post-operative pain. It also reduces patients’ recovery time significantly, they say.

“The medical device offers a treatment for patients who suffer from an advanced degree of GERD and, until now, would have been candidates for surgery,” said Dr. Scott Melvin, division director, general and gastrointestinal surgery, and director, Center for Minimally Invasive Surgery at the OSU Medical Center.

Heartburn, known to be linked with an increased risk of cancer of the oesophagus, is a condition in which acid refluxes from the stomach into the oesophagus, and causes burning sensation in the chest.

The incisionless surgery allows reconstruction of the one-way valve at the top of the stomach, when the valve is defective. During the procedure, the new tubular device is introduced to the body totally through the mouth, and is then advanced down the oesophagus into the stomach.

A small fiberoptic camera located within the device keeps surgeons informed about the progress of the operation.

“Throughout medical history, we have gone from a very painful surgery, to a better tolerated surgery and, now, to a potentially pain-free incisionless procedure. In addition, the new procedure allows a treatment option for many patients when reflux is not severe enough to require surgery,” said Melvin.

“We are far from incisionless technology’s adoption for widespread use with other diseases, but there is a lot of discussion among surgeons about these new techniques. Our use of this type of technology will continue to allow us to treat many diseases with minimal pain from surgery,” added Melvin. (ANI)