Grand River is first on Western Slope to offer two breakthrough procedures

Grand River Hospital and Medical Center in Rifle is the first facility on the Western Slope of Colorado to begin offering two minimally invasive, breakthrough procedures.

The first is a solution for the many who suffer from acid reflux and chronic heartburn. The EsophyX TIF procedure treats the underlying cause of acid reflux without incisions. It reconstructs the dysfunctional valve that is the cause of discomfort and restores the body’s natural protection against reflux. In recent studies, EsophyX TIF patients reported 80% improvement in quality of life, significantly improved satisfaction, and reduction/elimination of heartburn symptoms. All patients discontinued medication and 79% were still completely off daily medication two years after the procedure. EsophyX TIF has proven safe in hundreds of procedures worldwide and to date, side effects have been minimal. EsophyX TIF has many benefits for those considering the procedure, including no external skin incisions and scarring, no internal cutting, fewer adverse side effects and complications, does not limit future treatment options, and can be revised if necessary.

Grand River Hospital and Medical Center is also offering Single Port Access (SPA) surgery, also known as Single Incision Laparoscopic Surgery. This procedure is minimally invasive and the surgeon operates almost exclusively through a single point entry, which is often the navel. This benefits patients in many ways, including less post-operative pain, less blood loss, faster recovery time, few complications, and better cosmetic results. This procedure is commonly recommended to remove the appendix and gall bladder.

Grand River’s general surgeon, Paul Kanakaraj, MD FACS, will be offering these procedures to patients who are candidates at Grand River Hospital and Medical Center in Rifle. Dr. Kanakaraj is certified by the American Board of General Surgery and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He completed his training at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York and practiced in New York and Ohio before coming to Colorado. He provides a wide range of services in addition to these two breakthrough procedures, including general surgery, trauma, critical care, chronic wound care, and laparoscopic surgery.