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June 15, 2007 -- What started as a mild case of indigestion after
a big meal has worsened to a point that swallowing just a mouthful
of water sends a burning pain through your chest, neck and throat.
Mostly likely, this persistent condition is the result
of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a digestive condition
that causes severe heartburn in nearly one-third of the American
population.
Rather than eating antacids like candy for temporary
relief or staying away from certain foods that aggravate the condition,
a new sophisticated surgical procedure is emerging as an effective
long-term treatment option for GERD.
Kimball Medical Center thoracic surgeon Vincent L.
Moss, M.D., who joined the medical staff at Kimball after completing
fellowship training in cardiothoracic surgery at the State University
of New York — has introduced Nissen fundoplication as an alternative
to conventional open surgery for the treatment of severe GERD.
“GERD is the backward flow of the stomach’s
acidic contents, or reflux, into the esophagus,” Dr. Moss
explains. “The lower esophageal sphincter valve — the
muscle that lies at the base of the esophagus and the stomach —
normally acts as a barrier to keep food in the stomach. However,
this valve usually is weak or relaxed in a patient with GERD.”
The aims of surgery for GERD are to correct any hernia
that might exist, and to wrap a portion of the stomach around the
esophagus, thus creating a new valve mechanism to prevent reflux.
If complications of GERD exist, such as scarring or ulcer formation,
these are also corrected at the same time.
“By improving this barrier, the amount of reflux
is reduced, alleviating or even eliminating the symptoms of heartburn,”
Dr. Moss says.
Under the laparoscopic approach to correct the condition,
small incisions are used to enter the abdomen through narrow, tubelike
instruments. The laparoscope is connected to a tiny video camera
and inserted through a small incision. “This gives us a magnified
view of the patient’s internal organs on a television screen,”
Dr. Moss says.
Patients benefit because the laparoscopic procedure
translates into a shorter hospital stay and quicker recovery time
for patients, who usually can return to a normal lifestyle without
medication or dietary restrictions.
The surgery also improves a commonly related condition
— asthma. “Because GERD patients are frequently breathing
in gastric fluids, which irritates the lungs, they often suffer
from asthma in addition to heartburn,” he says. “After
the Nissen procedure, many patients get tremendous relief from their
asthma, and sometimes see a complete resolution of the condition.”
To learn more about Kimball’s surgical services
or for a referral to a heartburn specialist, call 1-888-SBHS-123
(888-724-7123).
Could It Be GERD?
While severe heartburn is the most-frequent symptom of gastroesophageal
reflux disease, it’s not the only one. There’s also:
-- Regurgitation
-- Indigestion
-- Nausea
-- Belching
-- Hoarseness
-- Laryngitis
-- Sore throat
-- Chronic dry cough
-- Swallowing difficulty
-- Sudden excess of saliva (waterbrash)
-- Gum inflammation
-- Erosion of tooth enamel
-- Sour taste in mouth
-- Bad breath
-- Earaches
Unexplained chest pain may be caused by GERD, but it also may indicate
a heart-related problem, particularly a heart attack. That is why
seeking immediate medical care is advised.
CONTACT: Kathleen Horan
Public Relations and Marketing
732-557-3909
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