LAPAROSOPIC SURGERY FOR GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE Gastroesophageal reflux is the most common gastrointestinal disorder of the western world. Gallup poles have elucidated that approximately 44 % of the adult population in the U.S. has some abnormal reflux of acidic gastric juices into the esophagus on a monthly basis. Roughly 10% of patients require daily acid suppression medication for relief of symptoms. GERD accounts for over 1.0 million out patient visits to physicians every year! Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) does not close properly, and stomach contents splash back, or reflux, into the esophagus. The LES is a ring of muscle located at the far end of the esophagus as …show more content…
The goals of therapy for GERD include: a) Symptomatic relief; b) Resolution of esophagitis (inflammatory changes of the esophagus as a result of abnormal acid exposure); and c) Prevention of complications.
Lifestyle Changes
The first step in treating GERD includes lifestyle and diet modifications: And these are usually very effective.
1. Elevate the head the head of your bed. You must place blocks under the bed post. Pillows will not help. Patients with GERD tend to have more frequent and longer episodes of reflux in the supine position than normal individuals.
2. Try to limit or avoid foods that can exacerbate GERD. This includes decreasing alcohol intake. Eat small meals.
3. DO NOT SMOKE. Aside from it's effect on LES and GERD, it can cause you a multitude of serious life and limb threatening problems. But you already knew that. Right?!
4. If possible, lose weight. Excess weight can increase intra-abdominal pressure sufficient enough to overcome the resting pressure of the LES.
5. Avoid tight fitting clothes.
6. Avoid lying down for several hours after eating.
Medical Therapy
• If at all possible, try to avoid medications that act to lower the LES pressure. (see above)
• Antacids, such as ALKA-SELTZER, MAALOX, MYLANTA, PEPTO-BISMOL, ROLAIDS, and RIOPAN, are usually the first drugs recommended to relieve heartburn and other mild GERD symptoms. Many brands on the market
Once diagnosed, I found the paucity of reliable, concrete treatments shocking; but, using extensive PubMed research, I cured myself within a year. I overcame GERD by changing habits, chugging gallons of aloe vera leaf juice and essentially understanding my body’s natural processes and ethnobotany, which I found personally relieving and intellectually fascinating. My victory prompted me to partake in Townsend’s series of scientific research classes, requiring my joining an academic laboratory
There are many different ways to treat GERD. You have many different options ranging from drug store remedies, drug prescriptions, and surgery. Some of the easiest things you can do involve a simple dietary and eating habits.
When suffering from GERD, it is important to know how to adjust in order to decrease the likelihood from suffering from signs and symptoms of this disease. A person with GERD should try to figure out what kind of food triggers the reflux. There are many foods that may irritate our stomach, for example, coffee, alcohols, tomatoes, and fatty foods, however, each and every one of us may be sensitive for a particular food/beverage and once we find out what it is we have to eliminate it. It is also crucial to decrease the size of our meal. If we are prone to acid reflux, it is important that we don’t lie flat for three hours after we have eaten a meal or snack.
GERD is a condition caused by stomach acid or stomach content coming up from the stomach into the esophagus. This backwash causes irritation in the esophagus, as the stomach acid damages the esophageal lining. Most cases of GERD occur in infants and adults. For infants, the most common cause of GERD is due to pyloric stenosis, a condition that affects the gastrointestinal tract as it narrows the pylorus. This causes food to flow backward as it cannot make its way to the stomach, thus causing the baby to vomit. In adults, the most common cause of
Control gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD). See your doctor about getting GERD under control, it can be controlled early enough to possibly prevent esophageal cancer.
GERD disease, commonly referred to as GERD or acid reflux, is a condition in which the liquid content of the stomach regurgitates (backs up or refluxes) into the esophagus. The liquid can inflame and damage the lining (esophagitis) although visible signs of inflammation occur in a minority of patients. The regurgitated liquid usually contains acid and pepsin that are produced by the stomach. (Pepsin is an enzyme that begins the digestion of proteins in the stomach.) The refluxed liquid also may contain bile that has backed-up into the stomach from the duodenum. The first part of the small intestine attached to the stomach. Acid is believed to be the most injurious component of the refluxed liquid.
Heartburn is actually a symptom of GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), and is caused by acid refluxing back into the esophagus. Risk factors include those that increase the production of acid in the stomach, as well as structural problems that allow acid reflux into the esophagus.
Indications: Age > 18 years and < 80 years symptomatic GERD patient for at least 6 months who having partially or complete response to medical treatment
Changing your eating habits is one. You should avoid eating close to bed time and also avoid eating large meals. You should also avoid fatty and fired foods, chocolate, garlic and onions, caffeine, spicy foods, and alcoholic beverages. Obesity often worsens symptoms. Many overweight people find relief when they lose weight. Smoking cigarettes also weakens the LES. When you stop smoking that is important to reduce GERD symptoms. Although better lifestyle choices can help your doctor may recommend prescriptions or over the counter treatments. Antacids can help neutralize acid in the esophagus and stomach and stop heartburn. If you use antacids for a long time it can result in side effects such as diarrhea, altered calcium metabolism and the buildup of magnesium.
Gastroesophageal reflux is considered a normal physiological process in healthy infants, children and adults. Most episodes last less that 3 minutes and most occur 30-60 min after meals and with reclining positions. GERD is present when the symptoms, more than twice a week, cause troublesome symptoms or complication (Cash, 2011, pp. 200). These complications can occur with severe, frequent, and persistent acid reflux causing inflammation, ulcers, and scarring. GERD can also lead to changes in the cells lining the esophagus, known as Barrett's esophagus, these changes raise the risk of esophageal cancer.
While antacids are used largely by the general public, there are no studies showing that they help or are effective in treating GERD. They are simply mechanisms to treat symptoms of a larger problem. PPI are the most effective for the treatment of GERD. The medication is orally administered as an inactive counter-part. It is converted to the active form by parietal cells in the stomach. Once active the drug causes irreversible deactivation of the enzyme that generates gastric acid. Because the deactivation is irreversible, the decrease is acid is effective until more enzyme can be produced. The goal for PPIs is to reduce stomack acid and to prevent stomach ulcer and further exacerbation of esophagitis. The medication may cause headache, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting thought the incidence of occurrence is very low. PPIs do increase the likely hood of the development of pneumonia due to the altered GI flora. Another major adverse effect is the rebound hypersecretion of acid. Patients who discontinue taking PPIs may experience dyspepsia due to acid rebound. This can be minimized by using the lowest dose and tapering the medication. Histamine receptor antagonists, though indicated for the treatment of GERD are not as effective at decrease stomach acid. PPI can decrease acid content by 90% whereas H2RAs only decrease by 65%. The medication works by blocking H2 receptors on parietal cells in the
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease or G.E.R.D is the result of stomach contents flowing backwards up the esophagus. This paper will discuss the symptoms of G.E.R.D., how G.E.R.D. is diagnosed, the treatment, and ways to prevent the disease. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease is treatable with favorable results; however, if left untreated G.E.R.D can cause serious complications over time.
Patients with GERD should avoid food and drink within 3 hours of bedtime, elevate the head of the bed, and eat smaller meals. [93]
Acid reflux is probably more common than you think it is. It affects something like 60 million Americans. Even if you do not suffer from acid reflux, you can likely experience it at least once in your life.
GERD or Gastroesphageal Reflux Disease is a condition that affects the lower esophageal sphincter. GERD occurs when contents from the stomach return back up into the esophagus. Symptoms that occur with this disorder include acid reflux, nausea, vomiting, hoarseness of the voice, loss of voice, pain in the chest, a cough, and trouble swallowing. Smoking, certain medications, and diet can all contribute to GERD. As a dietitian, I would recommend that my patient stay away from chocolate, alcohol, peppermint and spearmint, caffeinated beverages, decaffeinated coffee and tea with the exception of herbal teas, pepper, high-fat foods, and any fruits or vegetables that seem to cause symptoms to