Tuesday, March 7, 2017

By Janet Powell


Gatsroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a condition that affects patients of all ages and genders. Symptoms of this condition include, regurgitation of stomach juices into the esophagus and mouth, abdominal discomfort and dyspepsia (indigestion) among others. The underlying cause of this condition is a weak sphincter between the stomach and the esophagus that fails to restrict the movement of stomach contents. There are a number of important facts on reflux surgery Tx patients need to have.

The surgery is medically termed fundoplication. The main procedure here is to wrap the upper stomach portion around the lower part of the stomach and to sew it in a manner that secure it. When this is done, a small tunnel is created. The esophagus passes through this tunnel before eventually joining up with the stomach. The lower esophageal sphincter is thus reinforced and the probability of regurgitation significantly reduced.

As is custom for all major operations, potential candidates have to be adequately prepared. The first step in the preparation process if to be thoroughly evaluated by the doctor so as to determine whether the operation will indeed be beneficial. A number of blood tests are sometimes necessary. They include, for instance, renal function tests and a full blood count. For a patient that is on blood thinners, the same may have to be stopped temporarily.

There are several approaches that can be adopted by the surgeon when performing this procedure. Broadly, they are divided into open procedures and minimally invasive techniques. Ensure that you discuss these options with your doctor before signing up for the procedure. When using the open approach, the surgeon may either access the area of interest through the chest or through the abdomen. The former is chosen when the patient is overweight or has a very short esophagus.

When the laparoscopic technique is used, three ports of entry have to be created in the abdominal wall. The ports are used for the insertion of instruments and a camera. The camera helps to capture the images from the surgical field and projects them onto a monitor. The ports of entry that are used are significantly smaller than those that are used in the open procedure. The side effects associated with laparoscopy are fewer.

The time required for one to recover depends on the method that is employed to perform the operation. The open procedure is more extensive and hence requires a longer period of time for recovery. Patients have to be admitted to the hospital for several days and require weeks or months for full recovery. When the laparoscopic technique is used, the time is reduced significantly.

There may be a need to have some dietary changes particularly in the first few days after the surgery. Generally, one should ensure that the food chosen is soft enough. It should ideally be eaten in small quantities after being chewed thoroughly. These precautions ensure that food can pass through the esophagus in easily and does not compromise the healing process. Extraneous physical activity should be avoided.

While the majority of people experience remarkable improvement after the operation, others have only minimal benefits. In such cases, there may be a need to continue with the use of antacid medication. Another operation may be needed for some patients after a number of years. Reports of new or worsening symptoms have been reported among some patients undergoing the operation. Such may include difficulty in swallowing, flatulence and increased belching among others.




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