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Bringing new answers to GERD Specialists in restoring quality of life to those affected by acid reflux and uncontrolled heartburn, our interventional gastroenterologists and GI surgeons offer endoscopic and minimally invasive approaches to repair the integrity of the lower esophageal sphincter and cure GERD. Our specialized foregut surgeons routinely use advances such as robot-assisted tailored fundoplication, robot-assisted LINX magnetic sphincter augmentation and transoral incisionless fundoplication, or TIF—often combining these treatments with hernia repair in the same minimally invasive procedure. If GERD has progressed to Barrett's esophagus, incisionless techniques such as cryotherapy, radiation ablation and endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) allow us to destroy the abnormal or cancerous cells without surgery. Leaders in interventional endoscopy We offer the most successful interventional endoscopy procedures in use today, letting our interventional gastroenterologists successfully diagnose and treat problems from inside the digestive tract while eliminating the need for open surgery. And we're using these less invasive techniques to revolutionize the care of digestive diseases. Our patients benefit from therapies available at only a handful of medical centers in Southern California, including double balloon enteroscopy, which permits, for the first time, the entire 20- foot small intestine to be examined. For difficult-to-diagnose symptoms such as GI bleeding or abdominal pain, this noninvasive but technically challenging procedure is a game-changing advance that our interventional endoscopists are using to elevate treatment and outcomes. A unique focus on digestive cancers Advanced endoscopic techniques let us identify and treat cancer in dramatically new ways. For instance, radiofrequency ablation or thermal heat is used by our experts to painlessly destroy certain bile duct and pancreas cancers. Large esophageal polyps—even those deemed unresectable by other medical centers—are often removed endoscopically here, driving improvements in recovery, complications and outcomes. If more complex care is needed, our digestive cancer program within the Crosson Cancer Institute brings together foregut surgeons, colorectal surgeons, subspecialty-trained gastroenterologists, hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgeons, thoracic surgeons, medical oncologists, interventional radiologists and radiation oncologists to provide highly successful treatment for both common and rare cancers. Biweekly cancer conferences ensure the participation and input of nearly a dozen disciplines to a patient's care, creating the ultimate "second opinion" for diagnosis and treatment. Involved in some of the nation's top research collaboratives, we are leaders in bringing new therapies from the lab to the bedside—helping to change the standard of care in areas from pancreatic to gastric cancers. Clinical trials of new therapies capable of targeting the molecular profile of an individual's cancer are putting our doctors at the forefront of creating often dramatic improvements in outcomes. By bringing together experts in their field who share a commitment to exceptional outcomes, the St. Jude Digestive Health Institute continues to rapidly advance care while measurably improving lives. To make an appointment, please call 714-446-5831. Whether you're concerned about acid reflux symptoms, decreasing your risk of digestive cancers or improving immune function (70% of which lives inside your gut), our wellness and nutrition coaches can help. Through personalized eating strategies, cooking classes and one-on-one grocery store consultations, our nutrition experts can show you how to lower inflammation and improve health. If weight loss is needed to maximize your well-being, we offer a range of options from individualized meal planning to fitness coaching designed to drop pounds. To get started, go to stjudewellnesscenter.org or call 714-578-8770 and sign up for a free session with one of our wellness coaches to talk about your goals and how we can help accomplish them. Nutrition plays an important role in the health of your gut, and for some digestive conditions, such as GERD, it is often a first-line therapy.

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