Acid Reflux

Acid reflux is a commonly encountered problem that many Americans deal with. Many patients brush it off, but it can lead to serious consequences such as Barrett's esophagus, which is a precancerous lesion of the esophagus or even develop into cancer of the esophagus. If you have symptoms of acid reflux it is important to be evaluated by her doctor. Sometimes you will need a further evaluation to look into your esophagus to see if there are any problems in there.

There are treatments available for acid reflux. There are medications that can help. For some with mild symptoms, medication can be taken on a needed basis, but for those with more severe symptoms, daily medication may be needed to control your symptoms. For other patients, a procedure to reduce acid reflux may help reduce symptoms and reduce the number of medications needed to prevent the symptoms. There are surgical procedures that can be done which are usually done laparoscopically with small incisions in the belly where they can take the top of the stomach and wrap around the bottom of the esophagus. This procedure is called a fundoplication. 

There is also a magnetic ring of beads that can be placed around the bottom of the esophagus to reduce reflux called a LINX procedure. Finally, there is also a procedure that can be done via endoscopy (a camera that goes into the mouth down to the stomach) such as a transoral incision was fundoplication (TIF), or a Stretta procedure. If you do have Barrett's esophagus, this can be treated depending on what stage of Barrett's esophagus you have. It is important to be evaluated by a GI doctor and treated if you do have it to reduce your risk of developing cancer.

1.  No penetration or aspiration of tested consistencies.
2.  Postsurgical changes of prior Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and hiatal hernia repair with normal transit of contrast in the distal esophagus into the stomach.
3.  Findings compatible with mild esophageal dysmotility as characteristic above.