Sebahat Erdoğan, 60, who has been suffering from gastroesophageal reflux for many years, started to experience burning and indigestion in her stomach. In the last 10 years, the agitas became unbearable, drugs were useless. After endoscopic fundoplication by Yeditepe University Hospitals Gastroenterology Specialist Prof. Dr. Cengiz Pata, she recovered with the treatment method that did not lead to an incision. Erdogan, who lost her father to stomach cancer at a young age, said: "For the last 10 years, it has become unbearable. I woke up at night in pain in my bed. The drugs were not enough. I feel so good and healthy right now. 
 

Reflux Patient for 20 Years 

Stating that his patient has had reflux for 20 years, Head of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Association and Yeditepe University Gastroenterology Department Prof. Dr. Cengiz Pata: "She is a patient who has complaints such as the sour stomach. She had been taking medication for her illness for 20 years. The problem is reflux disease is the looseness of the valve at the junction of the esophagus and the stomach. Fundoplication operation performed with standard surgery is preferred in some patients who have to use drugs for a long time or who do not undergo drug treatment. Endoscopic fundoplication was an appropriate alternative and we treated our patient with this method. The endoscopic fundoplication method is the closure of the open area at the lower end of the esophagus without any incision by entering through the mouth with endoscopy, roughly speaking, by throwing staples. Since January, we have operated on about 12 of our patients and rescued 11 from reflux medications. We hope that the treatment of reflux disease with continuous medication will be history soon.''

“It Does Not Apply To Every Patient” 

Stating that the treatment method has just started to be applied in our country, Prof. Dr. Pata said, "We started to practice in our hospital for the first time in our country. The important thing here is that it is not correct to apply it to patients with an opening of more than three cm, that is, gastric hernia. In today's conditions, we prefer this method in small openings. Therefore, it is important to choose the right patient.”
Stating that it is not right for each patient to apply this method for the treatment of reflux, Prof. Dr. Pata: "Reflux disease is a disease that can progress differently. Some patients do not complain for years after 2-3 months of medication. Intermittent drug use will be appropriate for this patient group. In some patient groups, it is not possible to discontinue the drug or to get a response to the drugs. Endoscopic fundoplication method should be considered in these patients."

1 in 5 People Has It 

Stating that gastroesophageal reflux disease is seen at a very high rate in society, Prof. Dr. Cengiz Pata continued: "The incidence is almost 20 percent. 1 in 5 people on the street has reflux symptoms, and this rate is rising. Factors that affect this include excess weight, eating habits, and mobility. Turkey is currently the most obese country in Europe. We are giving up on cooking more and more. This is what drives the reflection.”
Stating that he lost his father to stomach cancer at a very young age and that reflux started in his 30s, Dr. Erdoğan said, "I have been taking stomach medication every day for about 20 years, and my stomach pains have become unbearable in the last 10 years. I was in so much pain. Mr. Cengiz said that this method is available. After 8 months of thinking about it, I was very happy. I have no complaints. I had complaints such as burning constantly and coughing. I woke up at night in pain. But I feel good now, I have not taken medication in four months, and I am enjoying life again.”

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