cTIF – SURGERY FOR ACID REFLUX
cTIF Procedure for GERD Relief in Savannah, GA
If you’re living with chronic heartburn, acid reflux, or Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), you know how much it can affect your quality of life. From sleepless nights to avoiding favorite foods, reflux symptoms can hold you back every day. Medications only mask the problem without fixing the root cause and may not be effective for some patients.
While conventional anti-reflux surgery can be an effective solution, side effects typically include difficulty swallowing, bloating, and increased flatulence.
Fortunately, an effective, minimally invasive procedure called cTIF is available in Savannah to provide lasting relief for patients suffering from GERD.
What Is the cTIF Procedure?
Robotic surgeon and accredited Master Hernia Surgeon Dr. T. Ellis “Chip” Barnes and gastroenterologist Dr. Jon Kandiah offer the cTIF procedure (combined Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication with hiatal hernia repair) — a minimally invasive solution designed to stop reflux at its source. The cTIF procedure is a cutting-edge treatment for GERD. It combines:
Hiatal hernia repair – to correct the anatomical cause of reflux.
TIF (Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication) – to rebuild the body’s natural anti-reflux valve.
Together, these steps restore the barrier between the stomach and esophagus, preventing acid from coming back up.
STEP 1 of cTIF:
Hiatal Hernia Repair
The root cause of acid reflux for many patients is a change in their anatomy where the stomach pushes through the diaphragm into the esophagus. This is known as a hiatal hernia. Using minimally invasive robotic surgery techniques, the stomach is placed back in its normal position. Once the hiatal hernia is repaired, lasting relief from GERD often requires repair of the valve that separates the stomach and esophagus. This takes place in the second part of the cTIF procedure.
Normal stomach and esophagus
Hiatal hernia
STEP 2 of cTIF:
Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication (TIF)
The TIF procedure reconstructs the esophageal valve that keeps stomach acid from entering the esophagus. TIF restores the body’s natural protection against reflux without incisions and is performed directly after hiatal hernia repair, under the same general anesthesia setting. The result is relief from acid reflux, heartburn, and all the effects associated with GERD. Dr. Barnes and Dr. Kandiah utilize their individual areas of expertise to complete the cTIF procedure and give patients a new chance at life without acid reflux.
The top of the stomach is gently folded and partially wrapped around the lower esophagus to create a new valve.
This newly created valve is held in
place with fasteners made of non-resorbable polypropylene.
Common Questions
IS cTIF EFFECTIVE?
Clinical studies show that cTIF is effective for treating typical and atypical symptoms of GERD. Most patients no longer take daily PPIs and report having effective symptom control.1,2
IS cTIF SAFE?
Clinical studies demonstrate that patients rarely report experiencing long-term side effects associated with traditional antireflux surgery.1,3 Please note that there is still potential for adverse events associated with the risk of using the EsophyX® Z+ device in the TIF 2.0 procedure. Please consult your clinician to discuss those risks.
1. Janu, et al. HH+TIF: Efficacy and safety in two community hospitals.Surg Innov 2019 Sep.
2. Haseeb, et al. Impact of Second Generation Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication on aaatypical GERD symptoms: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Gastrointest Endosc, 2022 Nov.
3. Merit Medical Systems, Inc., Data on File