“Can GERD be treated with surgery?”
I was diagnosed with GERD. Can GERD be treated with surgery?
6 Answers
GastroenterologistGastroenterologist
If you have a hiatal hernia and the medications start to show lesser effect, surgery is an option for GERD. Potentially you can be off the medication after the surgery
Absolutely. Especially if you have a hiatal hernia. This would require a surgical repair. No acid blocking medication‘s can completely eliminate the regurgitation from a hiatal hernia. Fundoplication surgery has been used for reflux for quite a long time. There is also the Linx device and endoscopic procedures as well
This is an excellent question. It really depends on the cause of the acid reflux. It can be from an incompetent gastroesophageal "sphincter," from a hiatal hernia, or even from an infection caused by a bacteria called H. Pylori. The short answer is yes, it can be cured, but identifying the cause is the first step. I would recommend an x-ray with oral contrast, and EGD. You may also need a pH probe study, and esophageal manometry, based on the aforementioned results.
Many times, yes. Different options for surgery include a fundoplication (stomach wrap), Linx device placement (magnetic sphincter augmentation), and sometimes gastrojejunostomy/gastric bypass. You should speak to a surgeon about the risks and benefits of the options and any other alternatives.
If it is caused by a hernia.
Yes. A surgeon can explain better all of the options, but the classic surgical repair is called a Nissen fundoplication. There is a newer technology called LINX that can also surgically address GERD.
