Gastroesophageal reflux surgery is indicated when pharmacological and dietary treatment does not work and complications such as ulcers or the development of Barrett’s esophagus begin to appear, for example. Therefore, it is only indicated after testing other types of treatment.
This surgery is performed under general anesthesia and by small cuts in the abdomen, and total recovery takes about 2 months, being necessary in the first weeks feeding only fluids, which can result in a slight weight loss.
Learn about e-reflux treatment options before surgery
Reflux surgery is often used to correct the hiaatus hernia, which is the main cause of esophageal reflux, and therefore your doctor should make small cuts to the area between your stomach and esophagus to correct your hernia.
Typically, the technique used is laparoscopy with general anesthesia, in which thin tubes are inserted through small cuts in the skin. Your doctor can look inside your body and perform surgery through a camera placed at the end of one of the tubes.
Reflux surgery is indicated when drug and dietary treatment does not work, but it may also depend on when the patient has reflux, the intensity and frequency of symptoms, and the patient’s willingness to be operated on to resolve the problem. .
Recovery after reflux surgery is rapid, with little pain and little risk of infection, and the patient usually leaves one day after surgery and may return to work after 1 or 2 weeks.
However, for faster recovery, it is recommended to
In addition, it is recommended to return to the hospital or go to the health center to treat wounds from surgery. In the first 2 days, it is important to bathe only with a sponge to avoid wetting the dressings, as this increases the risk of infection.
During recovery, your doctor may also recommend the use of antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs or pain relievers to reduce discomfort.
Due to pain and difficulty swallowing, it is advisable to follow this type of pattern:
The feeling of pain and a full stomach can lead to weight loss due to the least amount of food consumed. In addition, it is also common to have hiccups and excess gases, and it may be necessary to take medications such as Luftal to reduce these symptoms.
Learn how to eat a liquid or pasty diet to help your stomach recover
Reflux surgery is very safe, especially when performed by laparoscopy, however, there is always a risk of complications such as bleeding, thrombosis in the lower extremities, infection at the site of the cut-off or trauma to the organs near the stomach. In addition, because anesthesia is required, complications related to anesthesia may also occur.
Depending on the severity, these complications can lead to the need for the person to be re-operated by conventional surgery, performed with a large cut in the abdomen, rather than the laparoscopic procedure.
In addition to your return visit, you should see a doctor if there are:
These symptoms may indicate complications from surgery and you should go to the emergency room to treat and prevent other complications.
To avoid the need for surgery, see how foods should look to treat reflux and the main home remedies used for reflux.