Feeling The Difference: A Surgical Approach to Treating GERD
January 2, 2024
By Olga Mazur, MD
Fauquier Health Northern Virginia Surgical Specialists
Severe abdominal discomfort. A chronic sore throat. An aching neck. A metallic taste. Constant worrying about when the next medication will be needed. If these symptoms sound familiar, you could be suffering from severe gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD. An individual could go as long as several decades battling GERD with no resolution or relief.
General surgeon, Olga Mazur, MD, specializes in the surgical management of GERD. She works closely with her patients to properly diagnose their symptoms and then creates a treatment plan tailored to their individual needs. According to Dr. Mazur, “I strive to provide my patients with quality, evidence-based medical and surgical care. My goal is to help my patients successfully navigate their healthcare journey. From diagnosis to surgery to post-operative recovery and beyond, my patients can rely on me for effective and compassionate care.”
Signs and Symptoms
Common symptoms of GERD include heartburn, nausea, chest pain, bloating, and gas pain. If left untreated, these symptoms may progress to certain food intolerance, difficulty swallowing, disrupted sleep, chronic cough or new and/or worsening asthma. Long-standing GERD can lead to a pre-cancerous condition known as Barret’s esophagus.
The current treatment of GERD relies on proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) that decrease the amount of stomach acid produced. However, there is a concern with the side-effects of long-term usage of these medications.
PPIs are associated with a greater risk of infection, deficiency in vitamin and mineral absorption, which can lead to increased risk of bone fractures in the wrist, hip, or spine. Furthermore, medications do not address the anatomical derangements that may lead to GERD such as a malfunctioning lower gastro-esophageal sphincter or a hiatal hernia.
The Surgical Journey
According to Dr. Mazur, “Many patients are referred for surgical consultation by their primary physician or by their gastroenterologist. As your surgeon, I would then obtain a thorough history of your symptoms and review your medications.” Once a patient has been diagnosed with GERD, Dr. Mazur may need to perform additional imaging tests to determine whether the patient is an appropriate candidate for surgical intervention. “The goal of surgery is to restore a patient’s normal anatomy and to create a functional gastro-esophageal sphincter valve. The traditional operation for this is the Nissen Fundoplication.”
Dr. Mazur utilizes the da Vinci Xi robotic platform to perform minimally invasive surgery. This approach leads to smaller incisions, less postoperative pain, shorter hospital stays, faster return to work and improved cosmetic results (less scarring) as compared to an open surgery approach.
Post Surgery Expectations
The effects of surgery are immediate with most patients waking up from anesthesia noticing an improvement in their symptoms. During the recovery process, patients may have difficulty swallowing and bloating. For these reasons, patients are instructed to stay on a liquid and soft diet for several weeks. “It may take up to 3-4 months before patients resume their normal eating habits,” explained Dr. Mazur. “Since the majority of these patients have struggled with regular eating to begin with, the wait is well worth it.” Light exercise is also highly encouraged.
According to Dr. Mazur, “After surgery 90% of patients are no longer taking any antacid when surveyed at the 10-year mark. 5% to 8% take some type of antacid occasionally, and 2% may still taking medications daily.”
Dr. Mazur is accepting new patients at Warrenton and Gainesville. The Warrenton office, located at 550 Hospital Drive, can be reached at 540.347.2805. The Gainesville office, located at 7915 Lake Manassas Drive, can be reached at 571.261.2782. Additional details about Dr. Mazur and how to schedule an appointment can be found at FHDoctors.org or FauquierHealth.org.