Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication (TIF) for Laryngopharyngeal Reflux (LPR) Patients

To date, more than one-third of the motility patients that the investigators see in practice at Brigham and Women's Hospital have LPR. There is currently limited literature available addressing LPR as a primary indication for the TIF procedure moreover there is no single therapy that has proved its efficacy over the years against LPR. The investigators propose a pilot study to investigate the efficacy of TIF with the EsophyX device (EndoGastric Solutions, Inc., Redmond WA, USA) in patients with LPR. The study design would include up to 25 patients to receive the TIF procedure and will take 12 months to complete it. The investigators will compare objective and subjective outcomes at baseline and 3 months post TIF procedure to assess its efficacy against LPR. The investigators will submit the proposal to EndoGastric solutions, anticipating that they will cover part of the funding required to conduct our Pilot Study. In conclusion, LPR lacks an effective therapy despite posing a significant healthcare burden. Medical therapy with PPI has a variable response, and more invasive Laparoscopic fundoplication is associated with a high risk of unwanted long-term side effects. TIF can potentially bridge this gap between medical and more invasive approaches for the patient population suffering from this condition. It has the potential to prove to be a less invasive and safe treatment indication for patients with chronic or refractory LPR who have either failed medical therapy or do not want to be on long-term medical treatment.