What Is Laparoscopic Anti-reflux Surgery?
In order to understand how laparoscopic anti-reflux surgery works, it is important to first understand what causes GERD in the first place. When you swallow your food, it passes from your mouth to your stomach via the esophagus, which is essentially a tube. At the end of the tube is a muscle - in essence, a valve - that allows the food to pass through to the stomach, but then immediately closes so that the highly acidic stomach juices cannot flow back upward and burn the esophagus.
When this important valve, called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), does not function properly or completely, acid reflux can occur, leading to the sensation we know as “heartburn.” In some cases, dysfunction of the LES can be attributed to a lifestyle choice - smoking, the foods they eat, alcohol consumption, even the wearing of clothes that are too tight. In others, however, it can be due to congenital problems and made worse by the presence of a hiatal hernia, in which the top of the stomach bulges into the chest cavity.
Anti-reflux surgery is generally considered a last, but highly effective, resort for people with GERD who have tried, but not responded well to, lifestyle changes and medical therapies. During laparoscopic anti-reflux surgery:
- One of our surgeons makes several small incisions in the belly, near the navel, through which a tiny camera and the surgical tools will be inserted. The camera transmits real-time images to a screen so that the surgeon can monitor the procedure.
- If a hiatal hernia is present, it will be repaired. The surgeon tightens the opening of the diaphragm to prevent the stomach from bulging upward into the chest wall.
- The surgeon then wraps the upper part of the stomach around the lower end of the esophagus. This helps to keep the stomach juices and food from flowing back up into the esophagus and causing heartburn. Over time, it can also help to reduce the risk of esophageal cancer.
Versus traditional open surgery, laparoscopic anti-reflux surgery offers numerous benefits, including a quicker, more comfortable recovery period.
Learn More about Laparoscopic Anti-reflux Surgery
If you suffer from GERD, and you have not found relief through lifestyle changes and medicine, then you may be an ideal candidate for laparoscopic anti-reflux surgery. We invite you to contact Laparoscopic Surgical Center of New York today to schedule your initial consultation with one of our esteemed surgeons.
