Surgery treatment of GERD

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Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract are accompanied by severe pain and can significantly worsen the quality of life. The most common problems from this area are gastroesophageal reflux disease and diaphragmatic hernias.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a pathology of the function of the oesophageal sphincter. It allows food to pass through the cardiac orifice into the stomach. The development of the disease leads to damaging of the esophageal mucosa and to complications which appear in the form of erosive-ulcerative esophagitis or «Barrett's esophagus», which are considered precancerous conditions.

Potential causes of GERD are:

• poor diet;
• obesity;
• stress;
• taking of certain medications.

Diaphragmatic hernia is a displacement of the abdominal organs into the chest. The following factors can provoke the development of diaphragmatic hernia:

• congenital weakness of the connective tissue of the diaphragm;
• injuries;
• physically demanding job;
• obesity;
• diseases accompanied by a persistent cough.

Gastroscopy is usually performed to diagnose gastroesophageal reflux disease.

The diagnosis of a diaphragmatic hernia is based on chest x-ray data. To exclude the presence of concomitant pathologies, an abdominal x-ray with contrast and gastroscopy are prescribed. Sometimes to make an accurate diagnosis, specific studies may be required to assess functional disorders of the esophagus, such as manometry or daily monitoring of acidity.

Surgical intervention for gastroesophageal reflux disease is prescribed if conservative treatment has not yielded results. The main method of surgical treatment of GERD is fundoplication. This is an operation aimed at restoring the usefulness of the lower esophageal sphincter, the incorrect functioning of which makes the contents of the stomach constantly enter the esophagus.

Surgical treatment of diaphragmatic hernias is prescribed when the hernia interferes with the function of the chest organs, if conservative methods of treatment are ineffective and a risk of developing gastric ulcer, esophageal ulcer or other complications exists. During the operation the hernia orifice can be sutured, the esophageal ligaments can be strengthened, and the stomach can be fixed in the abdominal cavity.

You can make an appointment with a surgeon using the forms on the website.