Acid reflux is a sometimes painful condition that involves acid from your stomach escaping into your esophagus. Symptoms can include burning pain in your throat or chest, frequent belching and trouble swallowing food and drink. Over time, this condition can cause damage to your esophagus. Anti-reflux surgery can help.

What is anti-reflux surgery?

Anti-reflux surgery is surgery to correct the issues that cause acid reflux. It may involve simply tightening the muscle ring between the esophagus and the stomach. When a hiatal hernia is exacerbating acid reflux, that can also be repaired as part of anti-reflux surgery.

What are the benefits of anti-reflux surgery?

Acid reflux, also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a condition in which stomach acid and food can go back from your stomach into your esophagus. This can cause a painful burning sensation, a bloated feeling and frequent belching. You may also experience a bitter or sour taste in your mouth and throat. In some cases, individuals experience a narrowing of the esophagus and difficulty swallowing called dysphagia. You may also experience coughing, wheezing or hoarseness. Bloody vomit and black or bloody stools can occur during severe cases of reflux.

Surgery can alleviate all of those symptoms by strengthening the muscle that closes the entrance to the stomach and preventing reflux. Most people will not need to take medication after surgery. If you have serious symptoms, these can be alleviated by surgery to prevent future health problems.

Types of anti-reflux surgery

There are two basic types of anti-reflux surgery. With the most common type, the fundoplication, the opening of your esophagus will be tightened using stitches. A muscular valve will be created to prevent food and liquid from flowing out of your stomach and into your esophagus.

The LINX device is a surgically implanted ring that goes around the outside of the lower part of the esophagus. This device is made up of magnetic titanium beads that are held together with titanium wire, and is implanted laparoscopically. It is reversible, and can be used as an alternative to fundoplication.

If a hiatal hernia is responsible for reflux symptoms, this hernia will be repaired. Hiatal hernia repair involves tightening the opening of the diaphragm to keep your stomach from bulging up through the muscle wall.

Depending on the surgery required, you may have either laparoscopic or open surgery. In some cases, a procedure that requires no cuts can be performed to correct the issue.

Who is a good candidate for anti-reflux surgery?

Your doctor will first try to treat your acid reflux with medication and lifestyle changes. These changes can include changing the times of day you eat, eliminating trigger foods from your diet, losing weight and avoiding clothing that puts pressure on your abdomen. Medications generally reduce the amount of acid the stomach produces.

If these measures are not effective, anti-reflux surgery will be considered. Surgery may also be recommended if your symptoms are severe or if you have problems like ulcers, scarring, chronic pneumonia, or a narrowing of the esophagus.

Why choose The Surgery Group for anti-reflux surgery?

We've worked with patients who suffer from a number of complaints that include persistent acid reflux. Our surgeons have years of experience and the skill that is needed to ensure the most favorable outcome possible. We believe in a strong doctor-patient relationship. We answer your questions to ensure that you have the information you need to be empowered to have a quick recovery and an improvement to your health.