Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease or GERD is the condition when gastric acid from the stomach travels up into the esophagus because a muscle at the end of your esophagus does not close properly. This can cause heartburn, chest pain, regurgitation, nausea, chronic cough, or difficulty swallowing.

 

Over time, stomach acid can wear away the esophageal lining, causing sores or ulcers, and esophageal scarring. Scar tissue can narrow the esophagus, called a stricture; this can make it hard or painful to swallow. Patient may also risk of developing esophageal cancer in the future. Symptoms include trouble swallowing, bloody vomit, or bloody stools. Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication can help prevent these complications.

 

24 hours pH monitoring is the procedure to measure the reflux of acid from the stomach into esophagus. A thin plastic catheter is passed through one nostril, down the back of the throat, connected to a recorder that registers each reflux of acid for 24 hours, if the acid level in your esophagus is high, surgery may be advised. A 24-hourpH study is often done in conjunction with the oesophageal manometry to locate the right position of  lower esophageal sphincter for placing the catheter as well as to measure how well the muscles of the food pipe is working.

 

When the patient does not respond to medical treatment and lifestyle adaptive changes, patient may be advised to undergo “ Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication” which the surgeon will use a part of the stomach to wrap the top part of the stomach around the end of the esophagus. This will strengthen the valve, once it is completed; the lower esophageal sphincter (the valve between the esophagus and stomach) will function more effective and be able to stop acid from getting into the esophagus. To repair and strengthen esophagus, it requires careful pre-operative planning and assessment which the surgeon has to determine several things about patient’s health.

 

   -    1-2 hours operating time

   -    Less postoperative pain

   -    Tiny incisions

   -    Shorter hospital stay: 2-3 days

 

Phyathai 2 Hospital provides a complete range of services for the treatment of GERD; we have the professional physicians using the latest technology and surgical procedures to provide effective solutions.