Specialized surgeons provide relief from GERD with state-of-the art surgical procedures

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) provides symptoms of acid reflux or heartburn when stomach acid rises into the esophagus because it cannot be contained in the stomach.

Most people feel heartburn when acid flows backward, or refluxes, into the esophagus, causing discomfort. But GERD is when the reflux occurs chronically, causing pain and sometimes damaging the esophageal lining. If left untreated, GERD can lead to Barrett’s esophagus, a condition marked by destruction of the lining of the esophagus, and that can develop into esophageal cancer.

Medication helps stop heartburn symptoms, but cannot fix the reflux. Only surgery can fix the problem.

Call (972) 696-0030 or schedule an appointment online for a reflux-surgery consultation with a specially-trained surgeon.

Experienced surgeons in Plano, Texas

At North Texas Oncologic & Complex Surgery Associates, our skilled, experienced and board-certified surgeons offer the complete range of state-of-the-art anti-reflux surgeries. Specifically, we address the failure of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES).

Learn more about our team of surgeons who are here to help you.

Time is critical when dealing with GERD

Receiving the correct diagnosis is important for patients experiencing GERD symptoms. This helps you better understand your reflux and begin a treatment plan. NTOCS surgeons are experienced and specialize in minimally invasive anti-reflux surgery treatments.

They have the necessary experience needed to study and treat the most complex cases of GERD successfully, including revision surgery from previous procedures.

Symptoms of muscular failure that can lead to GERD

The LES muscle, located between the esophagus and the stomach, opens to allow food to flow. It also closes to prevent the stomach’s acidic contents from refluxing into the esophagus, where it can damage the lining. GERD occurs when the LES is defective and no longer prevents reflux, which may cause the following symptoms:

  • Chest pain
  • Heartburn
  • Sore throat
  • Cough
  • Regurgitation
  • Asthma

GERD is often progressive, so its symptoms can worsen over time and cause serious problems, including:

  • Inflammation, irritation or swelling of the esophagus (esophagitis)
  • Narrowing of the esophagus (stricture)
  • Precancerous changes to the esophagus (Barrett’s esophagus)

Testing procedures

Several tests are available to diagnose the underlying cause of your symptoms, including:

  • Esophagogastroduodenoscopy
  • Upper GI fluoroscopy/Videoesophagogram
  • Esophageal 24 hour pH/Impedance reflux monitoring
  • 48-96 hour pH monitoring
  • Esophageal high-resolution manometry
  • Nuclear gastric emptying imaging
  • Endoscopic ultrasound

Once test results are received and reviewed, our physicians can determine which digestive diseases may be causing your symptoms. Common ones include:

  • Hiatal hernia
  • GERD
  • Barrett’s Esophagus
  • Achalasia
  • Gastroparesis
  • Esophageal/Gastric cancer

Endoscopic options for treatment

If medical management is not effective, our surgeons offer the most advanced endoscopic and minimally invasive treatment options, including:

  • Gastrointestinal radiofrequency ablation
  • Peroral endoscopic myotomy
  • Transoral incisionless fundoplication

Our surgeons can prevent digestive diseases with today’s best techniques

When surgery is needed to stop the reflux, NTOCS’s highly competent, board-certified and fellowship-trained surgeons perform the most advanced and proven surgeries, which include:

Reflux management system

With this minimally invasive technique, our surgeons implant a small, circular metal device that facilitates the proper expansion and contraction of the LES using magnets. The system, while not offered by most other North Texas surgeons, offers the highest rates of success and a minimum of tissue disturbance. Also, it is the only GERD procedure that can be reversed if necessary. We are one of North Texas’ only surgical teams performing this procedure, and the first in North Texas to have performed it.

Nissen fundoplication

Laparoscopic fundoplication, first performed by Dr. Rudolph Nissen, is the minimally invasive surgical technique for wrapping the fundus around the LES and the lower part of the esophagus in order to strengthen the LES’ closing function.

Toupet fundoplication

The toupet procedure is a fundoplication that can be done for patients who may not be candidates for the other procedures.

With their vast surgical training, our physicians are extremely knowledgeable and capable. More importantly, they have performed thousands of anti-reflux surgical procedures, giving them not just the ability to determine the most appropriate, effective technique but, also, the experience to achieve best possible surgical outcomes.