Surgical Treatment for Acid Reflux

Acid reflux can be a serious condition that requires proper treatment. There are many drugs in the market and using these drugs without a prescription could lead to side effects. In addition, stopping acid reflux medication often involves a recurrence of the disease and its symptoms.

While acid reflux can be curbed through medication and a proper diet, yet there are severe cases of acid reflux where changing your eating habits and lifestyle can sometimes prove be inefficient.

Besides medication and proper diet, there are many alternative solutions to get relief from acid reflux, which usually require surgery. Surgery for acid reflux is sometimes the best way to eradicate gastric reflux because it protects you from the irritation, discomfort and other side effects of medications.

Why surgery is effective against GERD or acid reflux

The gastric reflux (GERD) is a physiological condition caused by failure of the lower esophageal sphincter (muscular valve that connects the esophagus to the stomach). This occurs by the reflux of stomach contents into the throat through the esophagus. This condition occurs in babies, children as well as in adults.

Under normal conditions, the lower esophageal sphincter prevents the regurgitation of acid from the stomach into the esophagus. It may happen that the gastro-esophageal sphincter, whose task is to open and close in order to ensure the flow of food, is not functioning properly and that food can easily flow back from the stomach to the throat.

There are many drugs on the market but they are sometimes ineffective against the disease. If you are in this situation, surgery may be the solution because it treats the disease and its effects are long lasting. Surgery can correct these deficiencies by regulating the activity of the lower esophageal sphincter and prevent the reflux of gastric fluid into the upper part of the esophagus.

Surgical procedures for the treatment of acid reflux

There are many surgical treatments but here are some of the main types of operations to treat acid reflux.

1. Laparoscopy or Nissen Fundoplication
2. Intraluminal Therapeutic Endoscopy
3. The Plicator system

Laparoscopy also known as the Nissen Fundoplication and the intraluminal therapeutic endoscopy are one of the most effective surgical procedures against gastric reflux. These surgeries are safe and recovery is guaranteed. The Plicator system is a relatively a new technique, effective and universally accepted.

They involve simple medical procedures and provide a lasting cure for patients suffering from severe forms of gastric reflux. Although surgery is often recommended to patients suffering from chronic acid reflux, it is also suitable for people with less severe forms.

Nissen Fundoplication

The Nissen Fundoplication is the most practiced surgical procedure against acid reflux. The purpose of this operation is to strengthen the walls of the esophagus in the region adjacent to the stomach, which increases the pressure in proximity of the lower esophageal sphincter. By increasing the pressure at the junction between the esophagus and stomach, this prevents the stomach contents from refluxing back into the esophagus.

Intraluminal Therapeutic Endoscopy

The intraluminal therapeutic endoscopy is quite similar to the procedures described above; the only difference that it involves the use of an endoscope. This operation is fast and involves low risk. In general, patients recover quickly after operation and require no postoperative treatment.

This technique consists of introducing a small camera inside your stomach. With this, the doctor is clear and can thus carry out the operation. Despite anesthesia, this procedure is cumbersome and most patients do not opt for it. Given its radical character, laparoscopy is not the preferred option for patients.

The Plicator system

This is a new technique and much less cumbersome. The surgeon slides an instrument called Plicator within the patient's throat. A local anesthetic is administered to the patient. The valve is inserted and tightened to proper maintenance. This process takes 30 minutes and the patient leaves the hospital after a day. After a few years, the operation is repeated.

Conclusion

Thanks to technological advances and the multitude of innovative procedures that exist today, surgery against gastric reflux occurs quickly, safely and effectively. It would be wise to learn about the issue and to consider all types of treatments.