Fundoplication -- Open Surgery
Fundoplication—Open Surgery
Definition
| Fundoplication |
|
| Copyright © Nucleus Medical Media, Inc. |
Reasons for Procedure
- Eliminate persistent GERD symptoms that are not relieved by medicine
- Correct acid reflux that is contributing to asthma symptoms
- Repair a hiatal hernia, which may be responsible for making GERD symptoms worse
- Eliminate the source of serious, long-term complications resulting from too much acid in the esophagus
Possible Complications
- Infection
- Bleeding
- Difficulty swallowing
- Return of reflux symptoms
- Limited ability to burp or vomit
- Gas pains
- Damage to organs
- Anesthesia-related problems
What to Expect
Prior to Procedure
- Physical exam
- X-ray —a test that uses radiation to take a picture of structures inside the body, especially bones
- Endoscopy —use of a tube attached to a viewing device (an endoscope) to examine the inside of the lining of the esophagus and stomach; a biopsy may also be taken
- Manometry—a test to measure the muscular contractions inside the esophagus and its response to swallowing
-
Talk to your doctor about your medicines. You may be asked to stop taking some medicines up to one week before the procedure, like:
- Anti-inflammatory drugs (eg, aspirin )
- Blood thinners, like warfarin (Coumadin)
- Clopidogrel (Plavix)
- Arrange for a ride to and from the hospital. Also, arrange for help at home.
- The night before, eat a light meal. Do not eat or drink anything after midnight.
Anesthesia
Description of the Procedure
How Long Will It Take?
How Much Will It Hurt?
Average Hospital Stay
Post-procedure Care
- Walk with assistance the day after surgery.
- Keep the incision area clean and dry.
- Ask your doctor about when it is safe to shower, bathe, or soak in water.
- You will start by eating a liquid diet. You will slowly be able to eat more solid foods.
- After a successful fundoplication, you may no longer need to take medicines for GERD.
- Be sure to follow your doctor's instructions .
Call Your Doctor
- Signs of infection, including fever and chills
- Redness, swelling, increasing pain, excessive bleeding, or any discharge from the incision site
- Nausea and/or vomiting that you cannot control with the medicines you were given after surgery, or which persist for more than two days after discharge from the hospital
- Increased swelling or pain in the abdomen
- Difficulty swallowing that does not improve
- Pain that you cannot control with the medicines you have been given
- Pain, burning, urgency or frequency of urination, or persistent bleeding in the urine
- Cough, shortness of breath, or chest pain
- Any other new symptoms
RESOURCES
National Digestive Diseases Clearinghouse http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/
The Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons http://www.sages.org/
CANADIAN RESOURCES
The Canadian Association of Gastroenterology http://www.cag-acg.org/
Health Canada http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/
References
EsophyX receives FDA clearance for performing transoral incisionless fundoplication surgery. Medical News Today website. Available at: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/83410.php . Published September 24, 2007. Accessed August 19, 2009.
Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons website. Available at: http://www.sages.org/ .
The Society of Thoracic Surgeons website. Available at: http://www.sts.org/sections/aboutthesociety/practiceguidelines/antibioticguideline/ .
Transoral incisionless fundoplication with EsophyX. Endogastric Solutions website. Available at: http://www.endogastricsolutions.com/esophyx%5Ffor-pt.htm . Accessed August 19, 2009.
Treating GERD. Ohio State University Medical Center website. Available at: http://medicalcenter.osu.edu/patientcare/healthcare%5Fservices/digestive%5Fdisorders/gerd%5Fheartburn/diagnosing%5Ftreating%5Fgerd/treating%5Fgerd/Pages/index.aspx . Accessed August 19, 2009.
