Surgical intervention for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is for the most part a functional problem involving the esophageal lower sphincter resulting in reflux of gastric acid. Refluxed acid may subsequently cause classic symptoms such as heartburn, but additionally atypical symptoms of pneumonia and asthma. Several modalities can be utilized to characterize the disease including esophagogastroduodenoscopy, pHmetry, and manometry. Specific indications for the surgical treatment of GERD have been recommended and surgery has been shown to reduce the need for post-operative medical treatment in a majority of the cases.
Source: Techniques in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy - Category: Gastroenterology Authors: Source Type: research