[O373]Over The Counter For Acid Reflux

Esophagus has an important role in moving the food down in the stomach with the aid of muscle contractions, at the lower end there is a specialized muscle called the lower esophageal sphincter that is tight until the food is above it, then it relaxes to let pass the food and fluids. This way acids, enzymes and other substances from the stomach do not come up in the esophagus to damage the tissue.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease appears when there is an excess of acid in the stomach that comes in the esophagus, because of the little resistance of the lower esophageal sphincter, after a large meal anyone may have symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux with inflammation, ulceration, heartburn and even cancer. Those symptoms appear very damaging in some people, but in others although there is tissue damage there are no symptoms.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease is more severe after fat foods, smoking, heavy meals. You may try medications and changing your lifestyle, but if you are young and healthy surgery is the best option.

Laparoscopy

Band-Aid surgery or laparoscopy implies video technology with a miniature TV camera so the abdominal organs may be seen and inspected in detail, this procedure has been used to inspect the female reproductive organs.

Laparoscopic Fundoplication

The surgeon folds the stomach of the patient during this procedure, the abdomen is inflated with carbon dioxide through a small incision and the laparoscope is introduced through one of the incisions, other necessary instruments to suture and dissect are also inserted. The upper parts of the stomach are sutured around both sides of the esophagus and this way the pressure is restored to normal so the reflux of acid won't take place.

The patient may return to its activies in a week and the incisions heal quickly, for the first two weeks the patient is allowed to eat only dietary. The advantages of the surgical procedure of laparoscopy are that the recovery is fast and there is no subsequent risk of stricture of the esophagus.

Complications

One of the risks is represented by the general anesthesia, of infection and internal bleeding. A complication that causes discomfort is gas-bloat which occurs because of the tightened low muscle of the esophagus which doesn't allowed food to pass in the stomach. Doctors advise to eat small amounts of food at one meal and to chew it thoroughly.
Other treatment options are: open surgery, proton pump inhibitors drugs, diet modification. The surgery is not recommended to patients with dysmotility, pregnant women, esophageal cancer, extreme obesity. The surgeon will suggest the best possibility for each person taking into consideration its risks and benefits. In cases where the medication fails the laparoscopic fundoplication is the only solution.