Antireflux Ablation Therapy (ARAT) for Gastroesophageal Reflux Treatment

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is defined as the rise of gastric or gastroduodenal contents above the esophagogastric junction (EGJ), generating symptoms and/or esophageal lesions. It is estimated a failure to treatment with PPI(proton pump inhibitor) between 10%-40% of patients with GERD. The main disadvantages of surgical treatment include perforation (0-4%), bleeding (\<1%) and pneumothorax (0-10%), the most common late complication is gastric fullness, which occurs in almost all patients, approximately 25% of patients may experience persistent dysphagia 3 months after surgery and the most worrisome late complication is the need of a new surgical intervention. The aims of treatment at EGJ is to reduce gastroesophageal reflux contents into the esophagus. Hybrid-APC with ablation of EGJ (ARAT) is a new technique with could generate a scar remodeling this region and consequently reducing reflux disease. Our objective is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ARAT in a group of patients with GERD without hiatal hernia.