What are the long-term effects of GERD surgery?

When the stomach contents move back to the esophagus, this results in acid reflux. This condition is known as gastroesophageal reflux or acid regurgitation. If the individuals experience acid reflux more than twice a week, they may have a digestive condition known as gastroesophageal reflux disease, commonly known as GERD. GERD surgery is the permanent solution to this condition. The long-term effects of GERD surgery are improvement in patient quality of life as patients get rid of the acid-suppression medications, gas-bloating syndrome, dysphagia, and recurrent heartburn.

Doctors believe that in some individuals, it is because of a health condition known as a hiatal hernia. The condition when the stomach bulges into the chest through an opening in the diaphragm is known as a hiatal hernia. This opening is hiatus, so the condition is called a hiatus hernia.
Furthermore, in some cases, patients can ease their GERD symptoms by changing their diet and lifestyle.

Causes of gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD

Even though there is no single cause of GERD, a mechanism in the body can increase the likelihood of GERD when not functioning correctly. The lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is a muscle ring at the esophagus’s end. LES relaxes and opens when you swallow if it is working correctly. After that, it tightens and closes again.

LES doesn’t tighten or close properly, which leads to gastroesophageal reflux disease. As a result, digestive juices and other contents from the stomach rise into the esophagus.
Some other possible causes include:

• If you lay down too soon after meals, it creates less pressure than the LES needs for its proper function.
• Frequently eating large meals cause distension of the upper part of the stomach. This distension means less pressure on the LES than it needs to close correctly.
• Hiatal hernia can also cause gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Hiatal hernia is caused when a part of the stomach moves up to the diaphragm towards the chest cavity. A compromised diaphragm increases the likelihood that the LES cannot function properly.

Symptoms of GERD

Acid reflux is the main symptom of GERD. Acid reflux results in heartburn, an uncomfortable burning feeling in the chest that moves up to the neck and throat.
Individuals with heartburn develop a sour or bitter taste at the back of their mouth. Furthermore, it also causes the regurgitation of food or liquid from the stomach to the mouth.

Other symptoms of GERD include:

• nausea
• pain in the throat when swallowing
• Pain in chest
• difficulty swallowing
• Bad breath
• Chronic cough

Treatment options for GERD

Changes in lifestyle

Doctors may encourage patients to get rid of the long-term effects of GERD surgery by making specific lifestyle changes as listed below:

• Maintain a moderate weight
• Quit smoking
• Avoid heavy meals in the evening
• Slightly elevate the head during sleep
• After meals, wait a few hours to lie down

Medication

Often doctors suggest taking medications like antacids, H2 receptor blockers, and proton pump inhibitors. However, all these medications have side effects, so take the medicine your doctor recommends.

GERD surgery

In some cases, medicines and lifestyle changes can prevent or relieve symptoms of GERD. Moreover, sometimes surgery is the only solution for this condition.
For instance, the doctor may recommend GERD surgery when lifestyle changes and medicines are not enough to stop the symptoms. And also when patients develop complications of GERD.

Nissen fundoplication surgery or anti reflux surgery is the most common procedure for GERD. Surgeons have been doing this surgery through an open incision in the abdomen since the late 1950s. Moreover, surgeons perform this laparoscopically, a minimally invasive approach, with multiple small incisions.
If an individual has a hiatal hernia, the surgeon fixes this condition first. In this operation, surgeons wrap the stomach’s upper part around the esophagus’s lower end. This surgery strengthens the LES valve, preventing the stomach juices from flowing back to the esophagus.

Laparoscopic approach

The most common way to carry out this surgery is with small instruments through small incisions. This laparoscopic, minimally invasive approach is the top standard of care. However, if this minimally invasive surgery is unsafe, the surgeon may use open surgery with one large cut in the upper abdomen.

Advantages of Nissen fundoplication surgery

After a Nissen fundoplication surgery, many people experience an improvement in the acid reflux symptoms such as heartburn. In addition, relieving the long-term effects of GERD surgery keeps the patients comfortable and decreases the risk of Barrett’s esophagus. Barrette’s esophagus is a condition in which the cell lining of the esophagus changes and leads to esophageal cancer.
Fast recovery, less pain, and shorter hospital stay are some advantages of laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication.

Recovery after GERD surgery

Life after acid reflux surgery requires specific lifestyle changes due to some recoverable post-op issues. For example, after the surgery, the patient may feel sour and feel some pain in the belly for several weeks. In the case of laparoscopic surgery, the patient may feel pain near the shoulder for a day or two after the surgery.
It may be hard for the patients to swallow for up to 6weeks after the surgery. In addition, they may also feel cramping in the belly and bloating. The cramping and bloating usually go away in 2 or 3 months.

The GERD surgery recovery time depends on the type of surgery the patient had. For example, the recovery time in laparoscopic surgery is about 2 to 3 weeks. After open surgery, the patients may need 4 to 6 weeks to return to the routine.

Children can return to school after the surgery within a few days after returning from the hospital. But they should keep away from strenuous physical activity for at least three or four weeks, depending upon the type of surgical procedure they have, i.e., laparoscopic or open surgery.

GERD surgery side effects

Common side effects after the surgery include

• Gas-bloat syndrome
• Dysphagia
• Diarrhea
• Recurrent heartburn

Most GERD surgery side effects improve 3 to 6 months after surgery. Dietary modifications, pharmacologic therapy, and esophageal dilation are helpful in the improvement of surgery complications.

GERD surgery cost

GERD is mainly characterized by heartburn and regurgitation of stomach contents and is widespread among people. ALSA Pakistan offers Nissen fundoplication surgery and LINX device implantation by a qualified and experienced surgeon to cure GERD. GERD surgery cost in Pakistan depends upon the surgical procedure suitable for the patient. ALSA offers an affordable GERD surgery range of around 200,000-300,000 PKR.