33a Myoora Road, Terrey Hills NSW 2084 | Tel 94608711 | Fax 94362103

Medical illustration of a surgical procedure involving the stomach and esophagus.

Surgery for Reflux

Surgery for reflux (gastroesophageal reflux disease, GORD) is indicated where patients have ongoing reflux symptoms despite treatment with medication. Symptoms from reflux include heartburn, regurgitation and chronic cough. Medications commonly used to treat reflux include Nexium, Pariet, Somac, Nizac and antacids such as Gaviscon and Mylanta. If these medications are insufficient to treat reflux symptoms then surgery should be considered.

Most patients with reflux symptoms will have a hiatus hernia. The hiatus is the hole in the diaphragm through which the oesophagus passes from the chest cavity into the abdomen. A hiatus hernia occurs when the stomach passes upward into the chest cavity and the valve mechanism between the oesophagus and stomach fails, resulting in reflux of gastric acid and digestive juices into the oesophagus

Book appointment

Close-up of a healthcare professional's hands wearing blue gloves, organizing surgical tools on a sterile drape, including scissors, forceps, and a scalpel.

Surgery for Reflux

Surgery for reflux is performed as a laparoscopic (keyhole) procedure. Patients undergoing laparoscopic antireflux surgery stay in hospital for one or two nights following their surgery

INSTRUCTIONS FOLLOWING SURGERY FOR REFLUX AND HIATUS HERNIA

Dressings and incisions

You will have five small incisions. When you leave hospital, these will be covered with water-proof dressings. It is fine to shower. It is not unusual for there to be a small amount of blood under the dressings. Remove these dressings one week after the day of your surgery. There will be small sutures (stitches) under the skin which will dissolve. You should not swim in a pool or the ocean for two weeks following your surgery.

Activities

You should take things easy for a few days after your surgery. It is not unusual to feel washed out and tired for some weeks after the repair of a large hiatus hernia. You should not drive for four or five days after your surgery provided you are comfortable and alert. You can walk as much as you like after surgery including stairs. You should not lift anything heavier than 10kgs for six weeks after surgery. Resistance exercise such as going to the gym, Pilates, or bike riding should be avoided for six weeks after surgery.

Diet

You will speak to our dietitian prior to your discharge from hospital. Our dietitian will provide you with dietary advice. It is common for patients to experience constipation after any surgery. Stool softeners or mild laxatives should be taken prior to surgery to avoid constipation or following surgery if you become constipated.

Post operative pain

It is not uncommon for patients to experience pain across the shoulders, neck and chest after hiatus hernia surgery. This is referred pain from the sutures in the diaphragm that have been used to repair your hiatus hernia. This will settle after a few days to a week. You should take regular paracetamol to treat this pain as well as the strong pain killers provided to you in hospital as required.