What
are the GERD surgery options? Frankly
speaking, though there are a few surgical options
available now to treat the gastroesophageal reflux
disease (GERD) symptoms, it is still not very
clear as to its effectiveness or utility.
Knowledgeable sources claim that the lower
esophageal sphincter (LES) that loses its
elasticity or firmness in holding back the reflux
can never be repaired to its original state as to
halt the back flow of the acidic stomach contents
on to the esophagus. Hence any invasive surgery
may ultimately prove ineffective and futile. A
holistic approach to the problem, instead, may
become more fruitful in providing relief to people
suffering from longstanding effects of
GERD.
However,
surgery often becomes necessary when medical or
drug treatment fails to provide any relief to the
sufferer. Surgery is often a hope when the LES
becomes totally inoperative, patients cannot put
up with various acid inhibitory drugs or when
esophageal cancer develops from chronic GERD. In
any case, untreated chronic GERD can cause
long-term complications and so an alternative
method of treating the disease becomes
inevitable.
Surgery,
both invasive and non-invasive, is often performed
as attempts to correct the failing LES to regain
some of its original strength in holding back the
acid reflux. As for the earlier one, Nissan
Fundoplication Surgical procedure seems to be most
effective in treating the GERD symptoms. The basic
principal involved in this type of surgery lies in
wrapping the bottom of the esophagus with the
upper end of the stomach (clinically called the
'fundus') where the faulty LES is positioned. This
procedure can tighten the LES adequately so that
no acidic stomach content may reflux back to the
esophagus. Performed using laparoscopy, it
requires five small incisions, instead of a large
one, while a minute telescopic video-camera
inserted through the mouth starts transmitting
images of the affected anatomy to a video monitor
for the advantage of the attending
surgeon.
Yet
another semi-invasive surgery to correct the
faulty LES involves the Stretta
Device
in which a catheter or thin tube with a balloon
attached to it is guided through the endoscope and
is placed above the stomach. The balloon is
thereafter inflated, exposing four pointed probes
that discharge high frequency radio waves on the
LES. After several such exposures, the LES
steadily gains strength and starts tightening its
valve-like structure so that eventually it becomes
strong enough to hold back
reflux.
However,
all GERD patients may not benefit from
laparoscopic surgery. More invasive procedures, as
for example, laparotomy, that requires opening of
the abdomen or thoractotomy which involves opening
of the chest are often performed to treat many who
suffer from gastriesophageal reflux
disease.
GERD
surgery
is often the last resort really for people in whom
every other line of treatment has failed. GERD
surgery can also lead to complications, and thus,
it is best avoided.
So
before opting for GERD surgery, at least try out
holistic remedies, as this is often more effective
than conventional medications. Holistic remedies
treat the body as a whole rather than just
treating the symptoms of the disease. This is a
better approach for treatment because the GERD can
be a very complicated affair and the causes of the
disease can also be many. Because of its unique
approach (delving deep into the matter and trying
to investigate the various causes of the disease
and then treat the body as a whole), holistic
remedies are giving so good results for people
suffering from GERD.
