Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a condition in which your stomach contents and gastric acid back up into your esophagus, causing a burning sensation in your throat and chest. GERD happens when a muscle located at the end of your esophagus does not function properly and allows leakage. It affects about 40 million people in the United States.

At St. Elizabeth Healthcare we are dedicated to helping you achieve the highest level of health possible. Our multidisciplinary care team works with you to determine what is affecting your health and what we can do to help you feel better.

Symptoms of GERD

The most common symptom of GERD is heartburn – a painful, burning sensation in the middle of your chest, behind your breastbone and the upper part of your abdomen.

Other symptoms may include: 

• Regurgitation
• Chest pain 
• Difficulty swallowing 
• Nausea and vomiting 
• Difficulty breathing 
• Voice hoarseness
• Cough

Causes of GERD

GERD occurs when the sphincter muscle in your lower esophagus becomes weak. As a result, your stomach contents and gastric acid can back up into your esophagus, causing GERD. This can be caused by a hiatal hernia but not all patients with GERD will have a hiatal hernia.

Diagnosing GERD

Tests and procedures that may be used to diagnose GERD include:

• Barium swallow – X-rays of your digestive tract are taken after you drink a solution containing barium.
• Upper endoscopy (EGD) – a test to examine the lining of your esophagus, stomach and the first part of your small intestine.
• Esophageal manometry – a test to measure the muscle contractions of your esophagus.
• pH monitoring/testing

Treating GERD

Most cases of GERD can be treated effectively with medication and lifestyle changes. The goal of drug therapy is to reduce the level of acid in your stomach to relieve the symptoms of heartburn. Lifestyle changes like quitting smoking, weight loss and avoiding foods that cause symptoms may also offer relief of GERD symptoms.

About 20-30% of patients will still have persistent symptoms despite medical management or may require escalating doses of acid medications. In these cases, surgery may be considered. The thoracic surgeons at St. Elizabeth Healthcare are dedicated exclusively to surgery to treat diseases of the esophagus and lung. They have a level of expertise and training not available anywhere else in this region so you can rest assured you are receiving the best care possible.

Surgical Treatment Options: 

Laparoscopic surgery with Nissen fundoplication

Laparoscopic surgery with Nissen fundoplication is the conventional surgery used to treat GERD. During laparoscopic surgery, several small incisions are made in your abdomen. These are used to insert surgical instruments and a laparoscope – a small thin tube with a video camera attached that allows your surgeon to see inside your body during surgery. 

If a hernia is present, the stomach is moved into its proper position and the opening allowing it to move out of place is closed. 

Fundoplication is a way to restore the function of your lower esophagus by wrapping it with the upper part of your stomach. The process creates a new valve between your esophagus and your stomach and prevents the contents from your stomach from backing up into your esophagus.

Partial Fundoplication

Some patients may not have an adequate esophageal squeeze for a Nissen Fundoplication so a partial fundoplication may be considered for these situations. In a partial fundoplication, the upper part of the stomach is only partially wrapped around the lower esophagus.