Positive Results with Anti-Reflux Surgery

Gastroesophageal reflux disease occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter allows food mixed with stomach acid to return back up the esophagus from the stomach. When this happens it causes symptoms including heartburn, which is a burning sensation in the chest, in addition to other symptoms. While mild cases of acid reflux can be treated with diet, lifestyle changes and over the counter medications, some people who have problems with gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, opt to have laparoscopic surgery to correct their reflux.

Anti-reflux surgery is minimally invasive and is often incredibly effective in the treatment of GERD. In most cases, laparoscopic anti-reflux surgery results in a significant decrease in patients’ reflux symptoms measured using the GERD-Health-Related Quality of Life Scale, and many patients report that they are glad that they had the surgery. Several studies have shown that anti-reflux surgery for GERD is an incredibly effective method of treating acid reflux short-term, and more studies are being conducted that show the surgery is also likely to be very effective for long-term relief from GERD.

For the most positive results with gastroesophageal reflux surgery, patients should have a body mass index between 25 and 35 and have the surgery, called laparoscopic fundoplication, performed by a team of surgeons that are experienced with this procedure. However, people who have higher or lower body mass index scores can also have successful anti-reflux surgery resulting in fewer reflux symptoms, although they may not have as great a reduction in symptoms as patients with BMIs between 25 and 35.