Barrett’s Esophagus Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 14, 2008

CONTACT: Amy Stewart (913) 498-7407 [email protected]

Menorah is the First Hospital in Kansas City to Treat Barrett’s Esophagus with New Technology Overland Park, Kan. – Menorah Medical Center is the first hospital in Kansas City to offer a new treatment for Barrett's esophagus, a precancerous condition affecting the lining of the esophagus, using HALO technology. “This is the first step in changing the history of Barrett’s Esophagus, which progresses to cancer quickly,” said Dr. Syed Faisal Jafri, gastroenterologist at Menorah. “It is a simple, outpatient procedure that is well tolerated and generally has no adverse effect.” Barrett's esophagus is a precancerous condition of the lining of the esophagus caused by gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD is a disorder in which stomach acid and enzymes cause injury to the esophageal lining, producing symptoms such as heartburn, regurgitation, and chest pain. Barrett’s esophagus has traditionally been managed with frequent endoscopic biopsy surveillance to detect progression to cancer. However, many physicians have long recognized the need to more proactively treat Barrett’s esophagus as opposed to watching and waiting for cancer to develop. The HALO technology at Menorah Medical Center does just that. The HALO technology removes the diseased layer of cells from the esophagus and offers treatment for the disease before it has the opportunity to progress to cancer. New healthy tissue replaces the ablated Barrett’s tissue in three to four weeks for most patients. “The new HALO technology has proven to be a great revolution for patients with Barrett’s Esophagus; it treats patients with both mild and severe cases,” said Dr. Bradley L. Freilich, gastroenterologist at Menorah. “By offering this procedure, Menorah continues to be a leader in providing cutting-edge technology to the community.”

For more information about the HALO technology at Menorah Medical Center, please call (913) 498-6112. ###