Jackson Slappy, MD, board certified surgeon at Emory Johns Creek Hospital performed the city’s first incisionless surgery last week. The new Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication procedure or TIF®, for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can significantly improve the quality of life for our patients, said Dr. Slappy.

“GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) is traditionally treated with reflux medications that can help relieve symptoms, but don’t solve the underlying anatomical problems that cause the disease,” according to Dr. Slappy.  Recent studies have shown that reflux medications (proton pump inhibitors or PPIs) interfere with Plavix and long term use of those medications can lead to inadequate absorption of minerals such as calcium and can result in bone fractures. “Many patients with chronic sinus infections, or reactive airway disease actually have reflux disease as the source of their problems. GERD is an anatomical problem which needs an anatomical solution,” he added.

The TIF procedure represents the next step in the evolution of surgery. Laparoscopy reduced the skin incisions typical of open surgery to a minimally invasive three-to-five port holes. However, laparoscopy still involves the same internal incisions and organ dissection as open surgery. TIF requires neither internal incisions nor dissection. With millions of Americans diagnosed with GERD, and not fully satisfied with their treatment options, this TIF procedure available at Emory Johns Creek is an excellent alternative.

Emory Johns Creek Hospital, located in the heart of Johns Creek, is known for its state-of-the-art technology in a luxurious, hotel-like setting. Services include emergency care, state-of-the-art all digital imaging including a 64 slice CT, MRI, The Birth Place with Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, 24-hour anesthesiologists, intensive care, advanced cardiac care, cardiac cath lab, vascular medicine and surgery, rehabilitation services and women’s services. Emory Johns Creek Hospital is home to the Atlanta Bariatric Center, designated a Center of Excellence by the American Society of Bariatric Surgeons.

BARRINGTON HALL ICE HOUSE GRAND OPENING

Barrington Hall will host an ice cream social in honor of the Ice House exhibit grand opening on Sunday, June 21 from 1:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m. Barrington Hall is located at 535 Barrington Drive in Roswell.

The families of Barrington Hall kept careful records and family stories. Barrington Hall staff have known for some time that the building was partitioned into three rooms - one for the household dairy, one for the summer bath house and one used as an ice storage pit.

The building was converted to a gift shop in the 1980’s and once that interior was removed, the rooms and pit could easily be seen. Archeologists from New South Associates uncovered a brick floor and cold water trough in the dairy.

For more details about Barrington Hall, visit www.southerntrilogy.com.

SMITH PLANTATION HOSTS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS: UNDERWEAR AND "AT HOME" ATTIRE - A CIVIL WAR ERA CIVILIAN EXHIBIT

Smith Plantation will host Behind Closed Doors: Underwear and “At Home” Attire—A Civil War Era Civilian Exhibit presented by PNJW Collections July 1-31, 2009.

This exhibit will feature original examples of Civil War era women, men and children’s underclothing as well as women’s wrappers and men’s dressing gowns. Wrappers and dressing gowns, or Banyans as they were sometimes called, were very commonly worn inside the home. “At Home” accessories such as women’s day and night caps, men’s smoking caps and house slippers, will also be on display.  Original underclothing on display will include all the various layers of underclothing for women, men and children. A special addition to the collection is a pair of dress under-sleeves worn by the daughter of General William T. Sherman.

The exhibit will be on display in the Smith Plantation Home during tour hours, Monday through Saturday tours 10:00 am -3:00 pm and Sunday 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Admission is Adults $8, Seniors $7, and Children and Students $6.

For more information, please call 770-641-3978 or log onto www.archibaldsmithplantation.org.