The most commonly performed operation for GERD is called a fundoplication (usually a Nissen fundoplication, named for the surgeon who first described this procedure in the late 1950’s). A fundoplication involves fixing your hiatal hernia, if present, and wrapping the top part of the stomach around the end of the esophagus to reinforce the lower esophageal sphincter, and this recreate the “one-way valve” that is meant to prevent acid reflux. This can be done using a single long incision on the upper abdomen, or more commonly by minimally invasive techniques using several small incisions, called laparoscopic surgery.
Conditions we treat with laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication include:
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
How quickly you recover depends on whether you had laparoscopic or open surgery. After laparoscopic surgery, most people can go back to work or their normal routine in about 2 to 3 weeks, depending on their work. After open surgery, you may need 4 to 6 weeks to get back to your normal routine
The advantage of the laparoscopic fundoplication approach is that it usually provides:
GERD can be annoying and even painful. But it is not a dangerous disease. For any GERD treatment to be worth trying, it needs to be very safe. For many people, especially those who have few problems taking medicine, surgery is not a good choice.
