MDNews - Mid Hudson

COVER FEATURE Left to right: Rob Wilson, surgical technician; Darren Rohan, M.D.; Dana Tocterman, R.N.; and John Silva, R.N. DR. ROHAN’S VITALS intervention is necessary to correct the anatomical defect. “Surgery is really the key to long-term prevention and progression of GERD.” Over the years, surgical options to relieve GERD have advanced from an open method to a less invasive laparoscopic fundoplication approach. Although less invasive than open surgery, the laparoscopic technique requires three to four small abdominal incisions, and side effects from the surgery can include gas, bloating and diffi culty swallowing. Sometimes, these side effects can be long term. Surgery Without Incisions Building upon the principles of open and laparoscopic surgeries, Dr. Rohan is using the latest, minimally invasive approach to treat GERD, called transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF) surgery. The entire procedure is done through the patient’s mouth with the help of a device called the EsophyX. An endoscope, equipped with a small video camera, is placed inside the EsophyX device and is carefully inserted through the patient’s mouth and advanced into the esophagus until it reaches the stomach. Dr. Rohan watches 8 | Mid Hudson MD NEWS  MDNEWS.COM his every move on the video screen nearby as he pulls and then fastens a long tissue fold. He continues repeating the technique to extend the fold until a long and tight antirefl ux valve is constructed. The valve creates a barrier to heartburn and regurgitation and restores the natural anatomy of the esophagus. “Essentially, I’m just bunching up tissue at the junction of the esophagus,” he adds. The fi nal step is to secure the tissue with three small, titanium staples. “The TIF procedure takes one hour to perform. No incisions are required, and there is no need to dissect any part of the patient’s natural internal anatomy,” adds Dr. Rohan. Patients remain in the hospital overnight following the procedure, and recovery time is much faster than the traditional abdominal fundoplication method. “We fi nd patients have far less dis- comfort and are able to return to work and normal activities within a few days following the procedure.” Long-term results with the TIF method are impressive. “Two-year data shows that 80% of patients improve after undergoing TIF surgery and 50% require no further medications following surgery,” says Darren Rohan, M.D., is Chief of Thoracic Surgery for HealthAlliance of the Hudson Valley and special- izes in minimally invasive thoracic surgery. He is also a member of Hudson Valley Surgical Specialists. Dr. Rohan, who grew up in Jacksonville, FL, has worked with HealthAlliance since July 2008. He is board certifi ed in both general and cardiothoracic surgery. He is a member of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons and the American College of Surgeons and was a Fellow in cardiothoracic surgery at the Long Island Jewish Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New Hyde Park. Dr. Rohan received his medical degree from the University of Miami School of Medicine, Alpha Omega Alpha, and completed his surgical residency and internship at Boston Medical Center/Boston University School of Medicine. He was a William J. von Liebig Fellow with the Harvard-Longwood Research Training Program in Vascular Surgery/National Research Service Award at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/ Harvard Medical School. In addition to his new role with HealthAlliance, Dr. Rohan is also Director of Thoracic Oncology at Saint Francis Hospital in Poughkeepsie. His admitting privi- leges extend to Benedictine and Kingston hospitals, Saint Francis Hospital and Vassar Brothers Medical Center. Dr. Rohan. “We’re fi nding that GERD is either greatly improved or com- pletely eliminated. We’re very pleased with the results we’re seeing. Before

• Cover