GREENFIELD — One local surgeon was recently recognized for performing more than 350 procedures to correct acid reflux in his patients.
Endogastric Solutions, a medical device company, presented an award to Dr. Jeff Heise, a general surgeon at Hancock Surgical Group, and medical director of the Heartburn Center at Hancock Regional Hospital, said Jodi Gilman, Hancock Regional Hospital marketing and communications coordinator.
Heise has performed more than 350 procedures to correct acid reflux, putting him in the top 10 percent of physicians in the country, Gilman wrote in an email to the Daily Reporter. He uses a minimally-invasive surgical solution to correct acid reflux, according to the Endogastric Solutions’ website.
For some patients, acid reflux worsens intogastroesophageal reflux disease, which has symptoms of frequent heartburn, regurgitation of food or sour liquid, difficulty swallowing, coughing, wheezing and chest pain — especially while lying down at night, according to the Mayo Clinic.
According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, GERD affects approximately 20 percent of the U.S. population and is most common in those who are overweight or obese, smokers and pregnant women.
Heise has been lauded for using a minimally invasive procedure to help his patients recover.
“The … procedure has a faster recovery … because it doesn’t involve incisions or have other side effects associated with traditional surgery,” Dr. Heise said. “Most of my patients are off their daily medicine and report an improved quality of life after the procedure.”
