St. Jude Medical Center - Fall 2018 - 4

Is it GERD or Something Else?
From the common to the complex, state-of-the-art
answers are found here
About one in five Americans will develop
GERD, the medical name for acid reflux
disease, in which acid from the stomach
flows up into the esophagus, causing
frequent, sometimes daily symptoms.
While heartburn is common, it's not
always present. For some, the signs of
GERD include a chronic cough, sore
throat, hoarseness, wheezing (often
mistaken for asthma), nausea or even
chest pain-often prompting a trip to an
emergency room.
If left untreated, acid reflux can scar or
damage the esophagus-a condition called
Barrett's esophagus-which significantly
increases the risk of esophageal cancer,
explains Eugene Yoon, MD, St. Jude Heritage
Medical Group and Medical Director,
GI Services.
"Anyone with long-standing reflux should
be screened for Barrett's esophagus.
While esophageal cancer remains
statistically small, it is the fastest growing
cancer in America and offers one of the
lowest survival rates," he says, explaining
that just a decade ago, "watchful waiting"
was the only option, followed by a
complicated surgery to remove part of the
esophagus. "Today, through a minimallyinvasive endoscopic technique, we're
able to destroy any abnormal cells before
cancer can form."
Called radiofrequency ablation, this
sophisticated technique is among the
procedures that have earned St. Jude
4 ST. JUDE MEDICAL CENTER

national recognition. By bringing together
state-of-the-art technology and experts in
their field, we continue to rapidly advance
care beyond the community norm-
not only in the treatment of Barrett's
esophagus, but for many of today's most
common GI conditions.
For instance, St. Jude gastroenterologists
routinely use minimally-invasive
techniques to remove cancerous polyps
within the GI tract, replacing complicated
and lengthy open surgeries. An innovative
diagnostic technique, called doubleballoon enteroscopy, is allowing-for the
first time-the evaluation and treatment
of symptoms originating from the small
intestine. Thanks to donor-funded
technology, St. Jude is also one of a
handful of Southern California hospitals
to routinely use endoscopic ultrasound
to more accurately stage cancers and

identify disease in its earliest stage, as well
as perform therapeutic interventions-
often eliminating the need for surgery.
For GERD sufferers, St. Jude
gastroenterologists are among the few to
offer Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication
(TIF), a successful endoscopic solution
that is giving patients back symptom-free
lives with little to no recovery time. "We
bring together a level of expertise and
state-of-the-art technology that is almost
unheard of for a community hospital,"
explains Dr. Yoon. "The exceptional
outcomes routinely created here allow
us to make a significant difference in our
patients' health and quality of life."
To make an appointment with a
St. Jude gastroenterologist, call
(714) 446-5831, or to find a physician visit
stjudemedicalcenter.org/gerd.

Already recognized by U.S. News & World Report
as one of the nation's high performing hospitals
in gastroenterology and GI surgery, we just added
a new honor. The St. Jude Center for Digestive
Health was named a national Center of Excellence
by ASGE (American Society of Gastrointestinal
Endoscopy), the nation's leading medical society
of quality and safety in endoscopic diagnosis
and treatment.
Two prestigious honors that make it easy to
recognize where to find the highest quality care
for you and your family.
St. Jude Medical Center - Fall 2018

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