Specialty

Gastroesophageal reflux treatment in CDMX Mexico Col del Valle

Doctor:

Octavio Rojas Diaz

Specialty

Gastrosurgeon / Colon Polyps

Address

Av. Coyoacan 715

Cp 03100 Col Del Valle CDMX

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Gastroesophageal reflux is a complex disease

Gastroesophageal reflux is a complex disease that causes uncomfortable symptoms, disability, and significant damage to organs such as the esophagus, lungs, bronchi, pharynx, teeth, and nutritional status.

The main cause of this disease is the incompetence of the lower esophageal sphincter, which causes the abnormal passage of upper digestive secretions into the esophagus.

The most recent studies show that between 10% and 20% of the population suffers from severe gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which means that in the Federal District there are between 2 and 4 million people of any age or sex with severe reflux and 7% have daily symptoms.

Symptoms include heartburn, regurgitation, abdominal or chest pain, difficulty swallowing, bloating, gas, nausea and vomiting, which in turn can cause diseases such as asthma, recurrent pneumonia and chronic pharyngitis, decreasing the quality of life of the people affected.

These symptoms are caused by increased exposure of the esophageal lining to upper digestive secretions, such as hydrochloric acid or bile.

The lower esophageal sphincter is located at the junction of the esophagus and stomach and its main function is to allow swallowed food to pass while preventing digestive secretions from reaching the esophagus.

Lower esophageal sphincter incompetence is the main cause of acid reflux, which occurs when stomach acid backs up into the esophagus, causing a host of unpleasant symptoms.

In addition to sphincter incompetence, other causes of reflux may include secondary motor disorders of the esophagus due to systemic disease and gastric obstruction.

Hiatal hernia is a common finding in patients with reflux, and when associated, there may be a higher incidence of complications.

Reflux Symptoms gastro-esophageal

Gastroesophageal reflux symptoms denote disease activity and progression, and can cause inflammation, ulcerations, bleeding, and ultimately cancer. Due to these complications, more aggressive treatment is often required.

Here are some of the more common complications of gastroesophageal reflux:

Esophagitis: erosion and inflammation in the epithelium of the esophagus.
Shatki ring.
Esophageal ulcers: Ulcers in the esophageal epithelium can bleed, perforate, or narrow the esophagus.
Esophageal stricture: critical narrowing of the esophagus due to repeated inflammatory episodes and ulcers.
Barrett's esophagus: an advanced stage of reflux that is precancerous and associated with one

Treatment

Traditionally, reflux has been treated with medications that decrease acidity and empty the stomach faster. Although they may relieve symptoms, reflux persists because these drugs do not restore lower esophageal sphincter competence.

Therefore, reflux disease is chronic and requires lifelong medication and dietary measures to prevent progression and complications. However, laparoscopic surgical treatment has become the best option for patients who do not respond to drugs or who present complications.

Surgery permanently cures reflux and patients can return to their normal life without medication or diet.
Laparoscopic surgery allows a more precise operation with small incisions, less pain, quick recovery, fewer days of hospitalization, and excellent cosmetic results. In just 7 days, the patient can return to their normal activities.

Before surgery, it is important to determine the severity of the disease and the presence of complications through studies such as pHmetry and manometry.

Importantly, reflux can lead to inflammation, ulcers, bleeding, and esophageal cancer. The disease worsens over time, so early diagnosis and treatment is essential.

Surgery is significantly more effective than medical therapy in improving symptoms, endoscopic signs, and progression of esophagitis in patients with complications of gastroesophageal reflux.

Before surgery, it is important to establish the progression of the disease and the presence or absence of complications through studies such as:

X-rays
Endoscopy and biopsies
24 hour pH monitoring
manometry
Nuclear medicine

The information obtained is essential to decide the operation. I have performed more than 1000 anti-reflux laparoscopic operations such as:

Laparoscopic fundoplications according to the needs of the patient, either complete Nissen or partial fundoplication
Laparoscopic Heller myotomy for achalasia.
Long esophageal myotomy for motor disorders, diffuse spasm, and nutcracker esophagus.

Results published in:

Laparoscopic long esophageal myotomy as treatment of diffuse esophageal spasm, results and description of the technique. MEXICAN JOURNAL OF ENDOSCOPIC SURGERY 2004 VOL.V 1:17-24
Laparoscopic long esophageal myotomy for diffuse spasm of the esophagus. IBEROLATIN AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INTENSIVE CARE 2000 9:26.28
Laparoscopic treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease. Experience in 79 cases. Surgeon General 1998 20 2:232-34
MANOMETRIC CONTROL IN SURGERY
ANTI-REFLOW LAPAROSCOPY. MEDICAL ANNALS OF THE AMERICAN BRITISH COWDRAY 1997 23:3:99-100
CURRENT STATUS OF BASIC AND ADVANCED LAPAROSCOPIC SURGERY IN 653 CASES OF A SURGICAL GROUP IN MEXICO. INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL RESEARCH 1994 21:4:171-178
LAPAROSCOPIC SURGERY WITHOUT GAS. IBERO-LATIN AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INTENSIVE CARE 1997 3:74-76
SHORT TERM TREATMENT OF GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX AND ITS COMPLICATIONS BY THE LAPAROSCOPIC METHOD. JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY OF MEXICO. 1993 VOL 53 #4 P:359