Reflux Treatment Outpatient Clinic

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is an extremely common digestive disorder that affects an estimated 20 percent of adults in the western world. Left untreated, GERD can lead to inflammation and damage to the lining of the esophagus, narrowing of the esophagus, pre-cancerous changes to the esophagus (Barrett’s esophagus) and esophageal cancer.

Sarasota Memorial’s dedicated, outpatient Reflux Clinic offers comprehensive evaluation, diagnostic testing and personalized treatment plans for those living with GERD, heartburn, esophageal disorders and other symptoms of esophageal dysfunction.

The Reflux Clinic is led by Sarasota Memorial and First Physician’s Group gastrointestinal and surgical specialists. Clinic Director Kenneth Meredith, MD, is a gastrointestinal oncology surgeon who specializes in treating benign and malignant diseases of the foregut and gastrointestinal tract.

Personalized Services for GERD, Heartburn & Esophageal Disorders

Comprehensive Evaluation: During an initial evaluation, specialists perform a thorough digestive health assessment, including a physical and complete review of health history and prior diagnostic tests.

Diagnostic Testing: Further tests may be needed to fully evaluate condition severity. These may include esophageal pH monitoring, esophagram, high-resolution mannometry and/or a gastric emptying study. 

Disease Management and Treatment: After reviewing test results, clinic specialists work with each patient to develop a personalized treatment plan, along with the patient’s primary and specialty care physicians and FPG’s team of dedicated gastro¬intestinal specialists. Each plan includes education, support and treatment options designed to eliminate or reduce the risk of serious complications from GERD. 

Minimally Invasive Surgical Treatment Options

The Reflux Clinic offers the best available surgical solutions for GERD and provides safe alternatives for those who don’t find adequate relief from medications, who suffer side effects from medications, or who simply want to stop the reflux and avoid the inconvenience and cost of taking daily medications.

In addition to traditional endoscopic treatments, the latest minimally invasive interventions and surgical options to treat GERD offered through the Reflux Clinic include:

• TIF, or Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication: a minimally invasive endoscopic procedure used to restore the function of the gastroesophageal valve, preventing stomach acids refluxing back into the esophagus.


• C-TIF, or Concomitant Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication: a variant of the TIF procedure including the simultaneous performance of a hiatal hernia repair with the TIF procedure. Typically performed when a patient has a larger hiatal hernia that needs to be addressed in addition to GERD.


• Stretta Therapy: a minimally invasive treatment option using radiofrequency energy to remodel and strengthen the muscle tissue in the lower esophagus, reducing the frequency and severity symptoms. This procedure is only available for patients with no (or very small) hiatal hernia and is the only noninvasive option to treat the reflux after bariatric surgery.


• Laparoscopic fundoplication: a procedure to reinforce the weakened valve between the esophagus and the stomach.


• Paraesophageal and hiatal hernia repair

Treating Associated Digestive Disorders

Treatment options for other disorders that are commonly associated with GERD include:

• Heller Myotomy


• Esophagectomy


• Gastrectomy (partial, subtotal and total)


• Robotic procedures

Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurance plans will cover some or all of the clinic’s services. The Reflux Clinic team can determine whether a patient is a candidate and can start the approval process.

Appointments & Information

The Reflux Clinic welcomes physician referrals, but they are not required. Patients are accepted at any stage of diagnosis or treatment. For appointments and more information, please call 941-917-GERD (4373).