Why am I having this procedure?

Your doctor(s) has ordered a procedure that he or she feels will benefit you due to your medical history and current treatment for your reflux disease. The Stretta procedure can help relieve your heartburn, or your GERD. It will use radiofrequency energy to tighten or shrink the valve between your stomach and esophagus. This will then keep stomach acid from going into your esophagus and creating pain and burning.

What can I expect?

This procedure is performed with a catheter placed by your physician through the mouth and the esophagus; it involves no cutting or sewing and leaves no incision scars.

It is performed in the endoscopy suite at the same day surgery center at Hancock Regional Hospital. It takes about 60 minutes and is often done under general sedation. There is no hospital stay with this procedure and you can typically return to normal activities the next day. The effects of this procedure will take about 6-12 months to be fully developed and finished. It takes time for your body to create the tightening effect on the valve.

What should I do to prepare?

The nurse will ask you questions about what medications you are taking and your medical history. Please do not have anything to eat or drink after midnight prior to your procedure. If you are on heart or blood pressure medications you will need to check with your physicians and let them decide if you should take these the morning of the exam.

What happens afterwards?

You will be taken to recovery and may feel a bit drowsy or even sleep for a short time. You may feel some bloating. The entire visit will last approximately three to four hours. You will be given instructions to follow once you return home. Because you have had sedation, you will need a family member, or friend, to drive you home and stay with you for the evening. You will be on a modified diet of liquids for the first 24 hours, then a soft diet for seven days. You cannot take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories for 48 hours.