Heartburn in Port Charlotte, FL
Serving Charlotte County, Sarasota, Fort Myers, Cape Coral, and surrounding areas
Heartburn, or GastroEsophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), is a very common affliction. More than 60 million Americans experience heartburn at least once a month, with more than 15 million experiencing symptoms every day. Symptoms include chest pain after eating, difficulty swallowing, chronic cough, fluid in the back of the throat while laying flat, and chronic voice changes. Medication can be taken regularly to control symptoms, but some patients have symptoms that medication can’t control or they do not want to take medicine everyday. For these patients, surgery is the best option to cure heartburn once and for all.
Heartburn and reflux are caused by a weakness in the Lower Esophageal Sphincter that is suppose to keep the top of the stomach closed to prevent stomach acid from pouring up into the throat and lungs. Usually, a hiatal hernia is the cause of this dysfunction. When the stomach starts to get pulled up through the diaphragm into the chest, this is called a hiatal hernia. Surgery involves correcting this and bringing the stomach back into its rightful anatomic place to restore proper function. We also wrap the top of the stomach around itself to reinforce the sphincter and stop heartburn all together. Surgery is done robotically through the latest minimally invasive techniques. Patients typically remain on a liquid diet for 1-2 weeks after surgery. Afterwards, heartburn is cured and patients can live life free of constant symptoms and medications.
