Upon receiving an acid reflux diagnosis, you may be wondering if acid reflux surgery is necessary. Many, like you, experience reflux symptoms that can sometimes be difficult to manage. Whether or not your symptoms cause extreme distress or momentary bouts of discomfort, it’s a good idea to know what treatment options are available and how they can benefit your situation.
What Is Acid Reflux?
Acid reflux is a serious condition that carries significant health consequences. Currently, it’s estimated that over 3 million people are living with acid reflux symptoms across the country. The most common treatments recommended for acid reflux patients are self-care and medication. Yet, these measures are not ideal nor effective for everyone.
Many patients eventually have acid reflux surgery after making positive lifestyle changes and taking medications that include H2 blockers, proton pump inhibitors, also known as PPIs, prokinetics, and antacids. However, those with symptoms that persist despite these interventions require advanced treatment. Surgery is the standard for severe or unresponsive acid reflux cases.
Today’s treatment options for acid reflux have come a long way from those of the past. Surgical procedures for acid reflux are more effective at treating the symptoms and improving the function and health of the esophageal sphincter to keep gastric acid from backflowing from the stomach into the throat and mouth.
The esophageal sphincter is a muscular valve in the esophagus (the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach). This esophageal sphincter is the seal that keeps bile and digestive secretions from leaking from the stomach.
Below are some of the most common questions Orange County Robotic General Surgery patients have about acid reflux surgery.
1. What are the dangers associated with acid reflux?
Many assume that acid reflux is a condition that doesn’t require treatment. In most cases, that’s true. Asymptomatic patients and those with mild symptoms can manage their disease to control the frequency and severity of reflux episodes, so they are less disruptive to their lives.
There are downsides to living with untreated or poorly managed acid reflux. The condition is progressive and is easily triggered by many foods, beverages, and activities. The longer acid reflux remains untreated, the worst symptoms become.
The acidic fluid that causes that nasty, bitter taste in your mouth is highly corrosive to the tissues lining the esophagus, throat, and oral cavities. It’s also a common cause of chronic inflammation in the throat and esophagus. Repeated exposure to gastric acid irritates these areas, eventually causing tooth decay and loss, oral ulcers or sores, asthma, chronic cough, hoarseness or voice loss, recurrent lung infections, esophagitis, Barrett’s esophagus, GERD, heart disease, and cancer.
2. Why should I consider anti-reflux surgery?
Acid reflux surgery is also clinically referred to as anti-reflux surgery. The procedure is often prescribed to patients experiencing treatment-resistant or severe acid reflux symptoms. Acid reflux surgery is also recommended for those with severe esophagus inflammation, esophageal stricture (abnormal narrowing of the esophagus), or abnormal changes in their esophageal lining or Barrett’s esophagus.
Although surgery is typically reserved for those whose symptoms persist despite making lifestyle changes and taking medications, it is also a safe and effective option for those unwilling to commit to using medicine for the rest of their lives.
3. Is surgery better than medication or self-care for acid reflux?
In most cases, yes. Acid reflux surgery offers patients distinct advantages over alternative treatment options. Surgery not only relieves the symptoms but also addresses the cause, which is usually a defective esophageal sphincter valve. Surgery repairs the valve, so it opens and shuts with a tight seal to keep gastric acid where it belongs— in the stomach. This gives the esophageal tissues time to heal to prevent further deterioration and damage.
Many acid reflux patients eventually have surgery because their symptoms no longer improve with conventional therapeutics to avoid the dangers associated with prolonged use of beta blockers, PPIs, antacids, or both. Also, instead of relying on self-care and medication, patients whose symptoms are aggravated by hernias can have Dr. Abtin Khosravi MD, FACS, repair them at the time of their minimally invasive anti-reflux surgery.
4. What surgical procedures are used to treat acid reflux or GERD?
Acid reflux surgery can be performed as an open or laparoscopic operation. Laparoscopic fundoplication is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that carries far fewer risks and more benefits for patients than open surgery. Not only is it safe and effective at treating acid reflux, it utilizes laparoscopic techniques, surgical instruments, and an advanced surgical robotics system.
The advantages of having laparoscopic acid reflux surgery are patients experience less post-operative pain and soreness and can resume their normal activities within one to two weeks.
Open anti-reflux surgery patients experience more severe and longer-lasting pain and require more time to heal, recover, and resume their daily activities. The average recovery time for open acid reflux surgery patients is six to eight weeks.
5. How Is Acid Reflux Surgery Performed?
To perform the procedure, Dr. Khosravi uses tiny laparoscopic surgical instruments to fix the LES manually, with his hands, or by extension of an advanced robotic surgical system. Laparoscopic measures enable him to perform the procedure with enhanced precision and accuracy. Laparoscopic fundoplication patients have less post-operative pain and discomfort, faster recoveries, less prominent surgical scars and blemishes, and better outcomes.
Due to the specialized techniques necessary to perform anti-reflux surgery laparoscopically, Dr. Khosravi may recommend intraluminal endoscopic procedures or convert to conventional or open surgical practices during the operation to achieve the desired outcome. Laparoscopic fundoplication is not suitable for patients at risk of adverse anesthesia effects, obesity, or with a history of certain medical conditions, etc.
Whereas with open acid reflux surgery or fundoplication, the overall impact of surgery is more significant. Multiple long incisions in the abdominal area are necessary for Dr. Khosravi to access and repair the LES. The nerves, tissues, and muscles in the abdominal area are very sensitive and are involved in many physical movements.
Open surgical practices are more taxing on the patient and require more of the body’s natural defenses and healing capacity. Open surgeries also mean longer healing and recovery times, more scar tissue, and additional and more complication risks.
Is Acid Reflux Surgery Right for You?
Open and laparoscopic acid reflux surgeries are safe, minimally invasive, and effective. However, the most beneficial option for patients is dependent on their circumstances and Dr. Khosravi’s treatment recommendations. A consultation is necessary!
If you experience acid reflux symptoms, now’s not the time to get complacent in managing or ignoring them. You don’t have to live with the discomfort and pain of acid reflux any longer.
Call (714) 541-4996 to schedule a consultation with acid reflux and hernia repair specialist Dr. Abtin Khosravi, M.D., FACS.
Dr. Khosravi is a renowned robotics surgeon and is also the director of Orange County Robotic General Surgery in California.
Contact Us
To find out if inguinal hernia repair surgery is right for you, Contact Orange County General Robotic Surgery at (714) 706-1257 for a consultation with Dr. Abtin H. Khosravi.
