Someone recently told me that they read an article that there is a new experimental treatment for GERD related conditions. The treatment is an attempt to strengthen the LES, and upper sphyncter for us LPR sufferers, with sound waves or some such, rather than invasive surgery. Has anybody out there heard of such a thing, or is this just another rumor? I thought it sounded sort of "far fetched", but wanted to ask if anyone else has heard of this.

Hi I think you are talking about the Stretta procedure. The Stretta System consists of the Stretta Catheter, which is a disposable, flexible catheter with needle electrodes, and the Curon Control Module. Using these devices, the physician delivers precisely controlled radiofrequency energy to create thermal lesions in the muscle of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES).

When the lesions heal, the barrier function of the LES is improved, resulting in a reduction in GERD symptoms.

My surgeon confesed that there is no conclusion opinion as to why the Fundoplication operation works, but that he thought that touching and manipulating the lower sphinter area caused it to work better or sort of "wake up" again. So from from persceptive I can imagine that they are relevant potentials like that from the Stretta procedure.