What is acid reflux?

Acid reflux is a common digestive disorder in which stomach acid flows back into the food pipe. The muscular ring linking the esophagus with the stomach is Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES). The function of LES is to prevent food from rolling out of the stomach back up to the esophagus. When the LES muscle becomes weak, it does not close tightly. This induces the food and acids produced by the stomach to move back (reflux) to the food pipe. The esophagus, which has no protection against these acids, gets inflamed and irritated. A laparoscopic surgeon in Kolkata says that if it occurs more than twice in a week, you might have the acid reflux disease termed as Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD).

Risk factors for acid reflux:

  • Eating a generous amount of food or lying down directly after a meal
  • Lifestyle factors like smoking, drinking or obesity
  • Eating junk, acidic, spicy or fatty food 
  • Munching food close to bedtime 
  • Pregnancy
  • Taking certain medications  
  • No physical movement 

Symptoms

The main symptoms of acid reflux are burning pain in the chest and sour burps. It usually causes a stinging sensation from your abdomen to your chest, or even up to your throat; and sour taste of the stomach fluid backed by the acids. 

Other symptoms include:

  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Throat problems 
  • Wheezing
  • Persistent dry cough 
  • Bloating 
  • Constant hiccups 
  • Dysphagia – swallowing difficulties 

Treatment

If acid reflux occurs more than twice in a week, you might need to consult the best laparoscopic surgeon in Kolkata. Patients who do not respond to medications may have to undergo a surgical procedure. Laparoscopy is used to examine organs inside the abdomen and is very effective in treating acid this disease. 

Laparoscopic surgery 

Doctors perform acid reflux operations using laparoscopy, a minimally invasive surgical technique. This method uses a long, narrow tube with a video camera at its end and various thin operating instruments. During the surgery, the tube and instruments are inserted into the abdomen through small incisions. The surgery is then performed within the abdomen using the camera. The patient is admitted for 1-3 days. This helps ensure that the patient has recovered and does not have post-surgery syndromes like nausea or vomiting. 

Advantages of laparoscopic surgery 

    • Minimal risk involved
    • Shortened hospital stay 
    • Better cosmetic result due to less scars
    • Free from lifelong medications      
    • Return to a normal routine within few days 

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  • Reduced or mild post-operative pain

Therefore, to get the best advice and treatment for acid reflux, contact Dr. S. Bhattacharya, a skilled surgeon highly qualified in laparoscopic anti-reflux surgery.