Heartburn Surgery
Things You Should Know About Heartburn Surgery
Do you think that you need heartburn surgery? Do you rely on antacid therapy to aid with your acid indigestion on a regular basis? These remedies that make up a multi-billion dollar industry range from antacid tablets that are available over-the-counter to prescription acid suppression medications.
These antacids have very few side effects and often give relief however, they do not reduce damage that is caused from reflux disease. Other drugs that are available are prokinetic agents, that are for helping to empty the stomach. While these also help with the symptoms, they do not control the disease.
Disadvantages Of Medications
If you are taking medications to avoid heartburn surgery you should know that prolonged reflux disease can eventually cause ulcerations in the lower esophagus that can bleed, resulting in a life-threatening surgery. Scarring in the esophagus is also known to occur which leads to difficulty swallowing.
Also, at least 20 percent of individuals that have gastroesophageal reflex disease for a prolonged period of time will develop Barrett's esophagus that will often progress to cancer.
Why You Should Consider Surgery
There are a few reasons why you should consider heartburn surgery. Reflux disease is a very serious condition. Now it is believed that the medications that you are probably currently taking to help with discomfort, may be making your condition worse over time. If you have reflux disease, complications may be postponed until the disease is severe. Therefore, it is now highly recommended that if you have significant symptoms, the disease should be evaluated and treated with surgery.
Surgical Procedure
Heartburn surgery reinforces the valve that lies between your stomach and esophagus by simply wrapping upper portions of your stomach around lower portions of your esophagus. Very small incisions, usually much less than a half inch wide are used to enter into the abdomen. The laparoscope is attached to a very tiny video camera and it is then inserted through the incision which offers the surgeon a view of internal organs to see on a television screen. Gas is used to expand your abdomen and the surgery is performed completely on the inside.
What To Expect After The Surgery
After heartburn surgery, you are fine and even encouraged to participate in light activity at home. Pain is generally quite mild but some patients need pain medication of prescription strength. Your surgeon may modify your diet and recommend strictly liquids, gradually advancing you later to switch to solid food. You will need a follow up appointment usually within two weeks of your operation.
Side Effects
There are very few reported cases of long-term side effects. Directly after the operation, some patients temporarily experience difficulty swallowing which is usually resolved within three months at most, after the surgery. On occasion, patients might need an additional procedure to help stretch the esophagus which is called an endoscopic dilation. You may also not be able to vomit or belch directly after the procedure and some people report that they have stomach bloating.
Complications
Although heartburn surgery is considered quite safe, like any operation, there are always risks of complications. An adverse reaction to anesthesia is a possibility as is bleeding or an infection of the abdomen, wound or blood. Also, in very rare cases, injury can occur to the esophagus, stomach, spleen or internal organs.
After surgery, you should seek medical attention if you have symptoms present such as an extended high fever, bleeding, severe pain, abdominal swelling, nausea, vomiting, chills, shortness of breath, coughing, drainage from an incision, redness around your incision or if you are unable to drink liquids.