Meade Edmunds, MD, and his team at Edmunds Gastroenterology in Knoxville, Tennessee, offer many treatments for various conditions that affect your gastrointestinal system, including radiofrequency ablation. This advanced medical treatment may be recommended if you’ve developed Barrett’s esophagus from chronic acid reflux. To schedule an appointment with the experienced team, call the office today or book an appointment online.
Radiofrequency ablation is type of medical procedure where radio waves are delivered via a catheter to affected areas of your body to remove diseased tissues while minimizing injury to the deeper tissue. Radiofrequency ablation heats the superficial layers of tissue until this layer is destroyed.
Radiofrequency is not new and has been used for many years to treat precancerous and cancerous conditions as well as bleeding problems within the gastrointestinal tract.
Dr. Edmunds and his team often use radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of a precancerous condition called Barrett’s esophagus. Barrett’s esophagus may develop from complications related to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
If precancerous cells are found in the distal esophagus from chronic reflux, radiofrequency can be used for removal of this precancerous tissue by destroying the superficial layer of the Barrett’s epithelium. Removing the precancerous cells through radiofrequency energy may reduce your risk of developing esophageal cancer.
Radiofrequency can also be used to destroy large polyps and to coagulate areas of bleeding within the gastrointestinal tract.
Treatment with radiofrequency ablation can be applied by using an endoscope-mounted catheter to disburse the ablated energy or with a balloon-mounted catheter to treat larger areas of Barrett’s esophagus.
Your preparation for radiofrequency ablation is very similar to that of a standard upper endoscopy. You should not eat within six hours of having the procedure done. If you’re taking blood thinners, you need to discuss how to modify your use of these medications with your primary care physician and gastroenterologist to reduce your bleeding risk.
After the procedure, you may develop some mild chest pain with periods of difficulty swallowing, and later the inflamed tissue may develop some scarring. You can expect new, healthy tissue to replace those areas of Barrett’s that were burned and eradicated within three to five weeks after your initial procedure.
For a consultation to see if radiofrequency ablation makes the best choice for you, call Edmunds Gastroenterology today or request an appointment online.
This information is not intended to diagnose or treat any condition. Please consult with your primary care physician or a specialist regarding your symptoms.
