University Surgical Consultants chicago hipec

Minimally Invasive Surgery - Reflux or Hiata Hernia

Heartburn is a common symptoms in American adults. If you have frequent or severe heartburn, you maybe suffering from Reflux disease, known otherwise as GERD (Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease). This means that the acid produced in your stomach is going "backward" into your esophagus causing that burning sensation.
A common cause for the acid to go that way is the presence of a Hiatal Hernia, where a weakness in your diaphragm allow part of your stomach to slide, or protrude into your chest.
If this pathology exists, the recurrent acid reflux episodes could cause damage to the delicate inner lining of your esophagus.
While anti-acid treatment (pills) could cause a great symptomatic relief and ease the pain, it does not prevent that harmful backlash of acid.
If you are diagnosed with a hiatal hernia, or have severe recurrent heartburn, or you simply cannot keep taking those antiacid pills daily or indefinitely, surgery could be an effective long term solution for you.
University Surgical Consultants has specially trained surgeons in antireflux surgery. We perform these complex operations using the cutting edge minimally invasive technology.
Surgery will be done through 4 to 5 small incisions (none largery than half an inch), where the surgeon repairs the hiatal hernia (placing in the majority of the time a biologic mesh for reinforcement), place the stomach back into the abdomen, and use part of it to wrap around the lower esophagus to make this area tighter and prevent the stomach acid from ging "backwards" again into your esophagus.
Since we converted to performing this operation laparoscopically, our patients now leave the hospital within 1 or 2 days, with minimal pain, back to their usual activities that week, only missing the pills and their heartburn!