More than half of Germans suffer from heartburn occasionally or permanently. Untreated reflux can cause severe respiratory disease and ulcers, and in the worst cases cancer, in the esophagus.
GENTLE TREATMENT OF REFLUX DISEASE – ON AN OUTPATIENT BASIS IN THE PRACTICE CLINIC DR. STRACK – BACK HOME THE SAME DAY OR SPEND A COMFORTABLE NIGHT IN THE PRIVATE, EXCLUSIVE AMBIENCE OF OUR PRACTICE CLINIC – REGARDLESS OF WHETHER YOU HAVE PRIVATE OR STATUTORY HEALTH INSURANCE
MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR DIAGNOSIS& CONSULTATION AN APPOINTMENT IN THE PRACTICE CLINIC DR. STRACK, INTESTINE
Appointment:
By phone: 0 61 51 2 47 56
Learn more about a stay in our practice clinic Dr. Strack in Darmstadt:
MODERN TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE – THE TREATMENT SPECTRUM OF THE DR PRACTICE CLINIC. STRACK INCLUDES ALL TREATMENT OPTIONS
Minimally invasive surgery is a long-term, cost-saving alternative to long-term medication and represents the only causal treatment approach for the reflux disease.
GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE
More than half of all Germans suffer from heartburn occasionally or permanently. The pain usually occurs after eating, sleeping is often only possible with the upper body elevated. In addition, many patients complain of refluxing food debris. Undetected reflux can thus cause severe respiratory diseases (bronchial asthma) Untreated, ulcers develop in the esophagus; in rare cases, cancer develops as a result.
Doctors call this widespread disease gastroesophogal reflux disease. Weakness of the lower esophageal sphincter or slackening of the esophageal muscles causes the food pulp to back up into the esophagus.
MULTIPLE CAUSES
The Causes of this disease are manifold: – The sphincter may be naturally too weak. – Irritants such as nicotine or certain medications can reduce muscle tension. – It also has a negative effect if too much gastric acid is produced or if the stomach empties too slowly – eating habits, alcohol consumption and stress play a role here. In most cases there is too big a gap in the diaphragm at the point where the esophagus passes from the chest into the abdominal cavity. Doctors call such a hernia a hiatal hernia. This weakens the function of the esophageal sphincter (lower esophageal sphincter). This esophageal sphincter works like a valve; it allows food to slide through to the stomach when it is ingested. Simultaneously blocks the backflow of stomach contents into the esophagus.
Consequences
This weakness of the closure leads to increased heartburn – acid reflux, which corrodes the ties of the esophagus. If left untreated, inflammatory ulcers and scars develop. Finally, the so-called Barrett's mucosa is formed, which is considered to be a precancerous condition and does not regress. If the disease progresses without the formation of erosions, it is called non-erosive reflux disease (NERD).
DIAGNOSIS OF gastroesophageal reflux disease
To confirm the diagnosis, an endoscopy, i.e. an examination of the esophagus (Esophagoscopy) and stomach (Esophagogastroscopy) performed. Here, the damage that has occurred to the esophagus can be determined. ph-impedance measurement registers all reflux events with a smallest probe over 24 hours. Allows so the exact survey of the severity of the disease. In our practice clinic Dr. Strack has the most modern equipment available for both examination methods.
Treatment With medication and lifestyle changes
Treatment of acid reflux is usually initially with medication. Proton pump inhibitors (PPI for short) are primarily used here. In addition to therapy with tablets, it helps to live healthier, to avoid intolerable as well as stomach-irritating foods, to quit smoking, to lose weight if overweight and to counteract stress. Some sufferers sleep better when the head of the bed is slightly elevated.
SURGICAL MEASURES FOR GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE
Surgical intervention is not usually indicated for non-inflammatory reflux disease. If inflammatory changes (erosions) in the esophageal mucosa are detected during endoscopy, it is particularly important to reduce the acid content of the reflux. Proton pump inhibitors in tablet form are also primarily suitable for this purpose. Injuries and even small ulcers often heal after only a few weeks. The physician may have to dilate scarred constrictions with a sonectomy. After continuous medication for 4 weeks, there is usually a switch to on-demand medication. In most cases, the patient is then dependent on regular medication. Studies show that up to 80% of patients experience symptoms again after stopping the medication.
If the symptoms do not improve even after long-term drug therapy, or if the drugs are not well tolerated, a minimally invasive surgical procedure can provide permanent relief here.
On the one hand, by eliminating the diaphragmatic hernia with reduction of the esophageal portal through the diaphragm and, on the other hand, by relocating the valve between the stomach and the esophagus, which is often displaced into the chest, back into the bicuspid region, the valve function is improved again. By forming a sleeve, the backflow of gastric contents from the esophagus into the stomach is also prevented. Even large diaphragmatic hernias, which occasionally cause the entire stomach to lie in the thorax, can be permanently closed in this way. Rarely, a mesh is implanted, which is applied to the diaphragmatic tie in addition to the suture closure. All operations are performed endoscopically, i.e. without an abdominal incision. The risk of a new occlusive leakage can be reduced to less than 5%. The use of the latest HDTV technology enables high optical magnification as well as the best possible overview, so that the operations can be performed with few complications and side effects such as postoperative dysphagia can be avoided. The procedure is also suitable for patients who have had previous abdominal surgery. It is considered to be painless. Postoperatively, patients are already allowed to drink again in the evening, and on the following day they begin to build up their diet. The minimally invasive surgery for gastroesophageal reflux disease is thus an interesting. Cost-saving alternative to long-term medication. It represents the only causal treatment approach for reflux disease.