Anti-reflux Surgery

Anti-Reflux Surgery is surgery performed for Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux Disease, which is when food and/or acid travels from the stomach back up into the oesophagus (gullet). The operation may also be called a Fundoplication, Nissen Fundoplication or Toupet Fundoplication.

The principle of this surgery is to use the stomach to reinforce the normal anti reflux mechanisms at the junction of the oesophagus (gullet) and the stomach.

The top part of the stomach (fundus) is gently freed from the surrounding organs and then wrapped around the lower part of the oesophagus and stitched into position. This then reduces the ability of food and fluid to travel back up into the oesophagus.

This operation can virtually always be performed by Keyhole Surgery. In most cases the post-surgery stay is only one or two nights in hospital.

Almost all patients have major reduction and great improvement or complete cessation in symptoms after surgery and 4 out of 5 can stop anti-acid medication completely. There is a short transition onto normal diet, but over 90% of patients eat entirely normally by the end of one month.