For many people, acid reflux is a once-in-a-while problem that occurs after eating a heavy or spicy meal. For others, chronic acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is an ongoing issue that needs to be managed in some way.
Advanced robotic and laparoscopic surgeon Daniel Rosen, MD, specializes in anti-reflux surgery on the Upper East Side and the surrounding Metro area of New York City, as well as in Secaucus, New Jersey, and Darien, Connecticut. At New York Hernia Center, he treats hiatal hernias to reduce symptoms of chronic acid reflux that haven’t improved with other treatments.
Do you feel like you’ve tried everything to improve your acid reflux symptoms without any luck? Keep reading to find out if anti-reflux surgery is the best next step.
The majority of people who experience acid reflux are able to manage it by changing their eating habits and lifestyle. If you frequently experience heartburn or other signs of acid reflux, your doctor might advise you to take these steps before considering more advanced treatments:
If the acid reflux persists, prescription medications are often the next step after changing your habits. Prescription proton-pump inhibitors and others can address acid reflux a little more aggressively and might take care of symptoms.
You might consider anti-reflux surgery if you feel like you’ve tried every avenue of acid reflux treatment and your symptoms still haven’t improved. If you’ve taken prescription medications as prescribed for some time, let your doctor know if you continue experiencing:
Anti-reflux surgery may be able to help you stop taking daily medications for acid reflux and avoid possible long-term side effects. Talk to your doctor if the idea of taking a medication every day worries you.
When no treatments improve your acid reflux, the consequences can be more complex than daily heartburn and a sour taste in your mouth. When acid reflux isn’t managed, it can cause:
Your esophagus is the tube between your mouth and stomach. If you have chronic acid reflux, the backflow of stomach acid can damage the inner lining of your esophagus and cause complications like strictures (scarring and narrowing), trouble swallowing, and an increased risk of esophageal cancer.
Your oral health may suffer because of long-term, unmanaged acid reflux. The acid that flows back into your throat can wear down tooth enamel and cause dental issues.
During anti-reflux surgery at New York Hernia Center, Dr. Rosen makes five small incisions across your belly. Through these small incisions, he inserts slim tools and a camera called a laparoscope.
Using the laparoscope to see, he uses the tools to repair any hiatal hernias in the stomach. He wraps the top part of the stomach, called the fundus, around the weakened lower esophageal sphincter to help tighten it. This helps prevent acid from flowing back up into the esophagus after you eat.
If you have chronic acid reflux that hasn’t improved with treatment, don’t hesitate to explore your surgical treatment options further. Call New York Hernia Center or book an appointment online today.
