Frequently Asked Questions About Reflux Surgery

In humans, there is a very complex valve system that regulates the passage between the esophagus and the stomach. In this way, the escape of the food in the stomach, especially acid and bile, into the esophagus is prevented. The most important cause of reflux is the insufficiency of this valve system or the slipping of the valve system, known as stomach hernia among the people, from the abdominal cavity to the chest cavity, resulting in inadequate functioning of the valve. In reflux disease, there is no high stomach acidity. Stomach contents escaping into the esophagus, even at normal or even low acid levels, cause damage to the esophagus. It is not necessary to have valve insufficiency for reflux to occur. Reflux may also occur in diseases of the esophagus and in case of gastric emptying disorder.

You can find the information of some of our patients who had reflux and other stomach surgeries here.

Reflux is a symptom, not a disease. Since reflux disease is seen in one of every 5 people today, this disease commonly comes to mind when reflux is mentioned.

The most common type of reflux is the delayed closure of the valve between the esophagus and the stomach, which is a mild form of reflux. The other two forms of reflux are that the lid stays open all the time; It is a severe stomach hernia in which the valve herniates from the abdomen into the chest cavity with valve insufficiency.

Persistent sore throat, difficulty in swallowing, dry cough, hoarseness, increase in saliva secretion are lesser-known symptoms of reflux.

The diseases that reflux is most confused with are heart attack, chronic cough, asthma, pneumonia, pharyngitis, laryngitis and gastritis.

Gastric juice escaping into the esophagus can irritate the larynx and cause constant sore throat. In these patients, unnecessary antibiotic use is often encountered with the misconception of pharyngitis. In this type of reflux, the treatment is more difficult, and the positive response to the drug is much less.

Temporary reflux attacks due to increased intra-abdominal pressure and hormonal changes can be seen in pregnant women. This condition usually improves in the post-pregnancy period. The majority of infant reflux returns to normal later on.

It is not possible to achieve a permanent improvement with diet in those who develop reflux disease due to valve failure and gastric hernia. While the complaints decrease during the diet, the same complaints are experienced again when the diet is stopped.

There is no scientific evidence to show that slimming benefits patients with mechanical defects in the valve. On the other hand, because less food is consumed in the diet, there may be a decrease in escape into the esophagus.

Smoking increases stomach acid and increases irritation in the esophagus. Alcohol (especially beer and wine) also has the property of increasing reflux by causing further expansion of the valve system. However, it cannot be said that smoking and alcohol alone cause reflux.

There is a relationship between reflux disease and lower end cancers of the esophagus. However, the probability of developing cancer in reflux patients is extremely low. Cancer may occur only after some preliminary findings.