In 2019, after enduring three years of headaches and frequent bouts of heartburn, Murali Bharadwaj of London learned what sparked his discomfort: gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a chronic condition caused by stomach acid repeatedly rising into his oesophagus. Whenever Bharadwaj drank beer or ate late in the evening, he experienced symptoms.
“The acid reflux meant I couldn’t focus on the present moment, in meetings, playing sports or having social drinks with my friends,” says the now 41-year-old. “My thoughts always went to the burning sensation in my throat.”
He began taking medication called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) to lower the acidity in his stomach. It helped, but only a little. In 2021, his doctor suggested a procedure to strengthen his lower oesophageal sphincter, the valve between the stomach and oesophagus. Bharadwaj was sceptical, but when he learned that transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF) didn’t involve invasive surgery—it’s performed endoscopically through the mouth and oesophagus—he decided to try it.
In TIF, a small portion of the upper stomach is folded over the bottom of the oesophagus and stapled in place. After the
