Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease or GERD, is a condition that results in reflux or heartburn when the stomach acid is not appropriately contained in the stomach and rises into the esophagus. Our heartburn and Reflux Center offers a comprehensive program to help treat esophageal and stomach (foregut) diseases using the latest technologies and minimally invasive surgical therapies.
GERD symptoms can be very painful and, if left untreated, harmful to the digestive system. If you are experiencing GERD symptoms, getting appropriate diagnosis is critical to understanding your reflux and developing the right treatment plan for you.
For more than 20 years, our surgeons have been performing minimally invasive antireflux surgery helping thousands of patients live more comfortably. They have the experience needed to study and treat the most complex cases of GERD successfully, including revisional surgery from previously failed procedures.
The surgeons at Houston Surgical Group Heartburn and Reflux Center perform minimally invasive robotic gastrointestinal surgery and offer the magnetic sphincter augmentation procedure for reflux management.
Our multidisciplinary team includes our four board-certified general surgeons, GI specialist, nurses, dietitians and a GI Nurse Navigator to get patients efficiently through the program. We offer diagnostic testing including but not limited to endoscopy, manometry and pH studies.
Reaching a final diagnosis and treatment plan may be time-consuming. We strive to make your experience efficient and we are able to expedite one day testing without keeping you away of your daily activities.
If you suffer from heartburn, nausea and other symptoms of GERD disease, Houston Surgical Group has a heartburn coordinator who will help you navigate through diagnostic testing and your treatment. The coordinator is available to answer your questions and provide any assistance you may need along the way. You may reach our coordinator by calling (713) HCA‑GERD (422‑4373).
Call today to talk about your treatment options and to schedule an appointment.
Diagnosing digestive disease
Several tests are available to diagnose the underlying cause of your symptoms. These include:
- Esophagogastroduodenoscopy is used to visualize the esophagus, stomach and duodenum to identify hiatal hernias and evidence of reflux or swallowing problems.
- Catheter free Bravo esophageal pH monitoring which measures the acid from the stomach reaching the esophagus to diagnose GERD.
- The test is performed using a capsule that is temporarily attached to the wall of your esophagus to monitor your pH over a period of 48 to 72 hours.
- Esophageal high-resolution manometry evaluates the function of the esophagus and may be used to diagnose GERD or other swallowing problems.
- Nuclear gastric emptying imaging assesses how quickly food moved to your stomach and is used to diagnose gastroparesis.
- Upper GI fluoroscopy provides a visual assessment of the esophagus from the stomach to determine the size of the hiatal hernia and the emptying of your esophagus.
- Endoscopic ultrasound is used to characterize and biopsied tumors of the esophagus and stomach in order to determine the exact diagnosis the best course of therapy.
Based upon the results of your tests there are several digestive diseases which may be causing your symptoms:
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease GERD
- Hiatal hernia
- Achalasia
- Gastroparesis
- Barrett's esophagus
- Esophageal/gastric cancer
Treating GERD and esophageal disorders – non-invasive treatments
If medical management is not adequate, Houston Surgical Group offers the most advanced endoscopic and minimally invasive surgical options to treat your condition.
Treatments include:
- Radiofrequency ablation use for Barrett's esophagus. This procedure uses radiofrequency currents to remove the diseased tissue.
- Endoscopic mucosal resection this procedure removed precancerous and small cancerous growths from your esophagus or stomach.
- Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy (POEM) for treatment of achalasia
Treating GERD and esophageal disorders – minimally invasive treatments
Robotic or laparoscopic techniques can be used for any of the following procedures:
- Fundoplication this procedure prevents the flow of acids from the stomach into the esophagus, and strengthens the valve between the esophagus and stomach, which stops acid from backing up into the esophagus as easily.
- Gastrectomy/esophagectomy is the most modern resection techniques are used to treat esophageal and gastric cancer.
- Heller myotomy
- Hiatal hernia repair is procedure which re-creates or reinforces the muscles surrounding the lower esophagus.
- Magnetic sphincter augmentation is a ring of magnetic beads is placed around the lower esophagus to prevent regurgitation of gastric acid into the esophagus.
- Partial gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y reconstruction can be used for the treatment of reflux on patients with obesity. All of our surgeons perform weight loss surgery and are able to offer this procedure to you when indicated.
- Pyloroplasty/partial gastrectomy is used to treat patients with severe gastroparesis.