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Nissen Fundoplication is a surgical procedure that alleviates GERD symptoms when lifestyle changes or anti-reflux medications have not controlled symptoms. The procedure was first performed in 1951 as an open surgical procedure. Patients were hospitalized for 7-10 days after the procedure. Today, the Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication is done in approximately 90 minutes. A majority of the time the patient is in the hospital overnight and is discharges the morning after surgery.

The purpose of the surgery is to fix a hiatal hernia, if present, and to form a valve around the lower esophagus to keep stomach contents from flowing back into the esophagus.

In this procedure, the top part of the stomach (approximately 5%) is wrapped around the esophagus to form an additional valve to keep stomach contents from flowing up into the esophagus. The patient has 5-6 incisions, about ¼ inch each, in the abdomen. Post-operatively, after arousing from the anesthesia, the patient is given liquids to drink and advances to a soft diet. It is a successful treatment in about 95% of the patients who have surgery.

Patients are carefully screened prior to having a Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication. Not all heartburn sufferers are candidates for the surgery. The first step is to realize that heartburn and acid reflux are serious and can have a negative impact on daily living.

Please contact the Triad Heartburn Treatment Center at 1-877-272-0821. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 4:30pm.