Acid Reflux Disease and Heartburn Surgery
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) occurs when the acidic fluid inside your stomach backflows up into your esophagus. Gastric acid can damage the inner lining of the esophagus and lead to pain as well as possible complications later on such as inflammation, stricture, and even esophageal cancer.
Treating GERD and acid reflux is usually a matter of taking medication or changing your diet to eliminate trigger foods and making some other lifestyle changes. However, in some cases, you may need anti reflux surgery to fix the problem. Preeti Malladi provides heartburn surgery for residents of Plano and the greater Dallas area.
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Animation
Acid Reflux Symptoms
Acid reflux is generally characterized by heartburn, regurgitation of stomach acid (“wet burping”), and general discomfort of the stomach (called dyspepsia). If these occur frequently, it may be a sign of gastroesophageal reflux disease. This reflux disease can cause pain, irritation, discomfort in the chest, and in some cases, frequent heartburn.
Causes of Acid Reflux
But what causes acid reflux disease? There are a number of factors that put you at higher risk for GERD, including:
- Weakened lower esophageal sphincter (LES) muscle, which keeps the bottom of the esophagus closed.
- Obesity
- Hiatal hernia, in which the stomach pokes up through the diaphragm
- Smoking
- Certain trigger foods
- Alcohol
- Caffeine
- Pregnancy
Depending on the cause of your GERD, you may benefit from the services of a stomach surgeon. Stomach surgeons are specially trained to recognize your specific reflux issue and take corrective action like GERD surgery or reflux surgery. Contact Dr. Malladi for more details on whether surgery for acid reflux disease would be right for you or your loved one.
Tests, Diagnosis, and Treatment
GERD can be diagnosed via the following methods:
- Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy
- Biopsy
- Barium swallow radiograph
- pH monitoring
- Esophageal manometry
Once diagnosed, treatment to prevent reflux will take any of a number of forms depending on its root cause. There are several different GERD surgical options that could be the right fit for your specific reflux disease. Dr. Malladi uses the following types of anti reflux surgery to help Dallas patients:
- Hiatal hernia repair
- The surgical procedure Nissen fundoplication reinforces the LES by wrapping a bit of the stomach around the esophagus
- LINX procedure, which uses magnets to strengthen a weak LES
- Achalasia surgery
When seeking treatment for GERD, it’s important to see a doctor who has the right set of skills and knowledge to see you through the reflux operation process successfully. Dr. Malladi is a skilled acid reflux surgeon in the Dallas Fort Worth and Plano area who can help you through the process. For the help you need to overcome GERD, call today to schedule an appointment.
