Alternative treatment of gastroesophageal reflux: endoluminal gastric plication

Gastroesophageal reflux is a common chronic disorder that is presented in infants under different clinical pictures. Adolescents with heartburn, dependent on acid supression therapy is a group of patients refered with increased frequency to pediatric surgeons. To date, the accepted methods of management are long term medication or surgery. Recently, different endoscopic techniques have been described to treat gastroesophageal reflux. Endoscopic antireflux suturing is one of this developed methods. In this paper, we present the preliminary results in the treatment of pediatric patients with an endoscopic suturing device. The procedure was accomplished in six patients and the results were analized 6 months after the placement of the sutures. We have obtained an improvement in clinical symptoms reduction, in terms of frequency as well as in intensity. Acid supression therapy was also reduced significantly. There were no complications during the endoscopic procedure, neither in the postoperative course. Patients, were agree with the technique and the clinical results obtained. Endoscopic suturing is a safe procedure that can be an alternative in the treatment of selected patients with gastroesophageal reflux, in the pediatric age group.