South Bay Reflux and Esophageal Specialists

Gastric Procedures Specialist

Gastric issues like ulcers, polyps, cancer, and gastroparesis can be effectively diagnosed and treated by the experienced surgeons at Association of South Bay Surgeons. Treatment includes minimally invasive laparoscopic and endoscopic surgery that allows for a fast recovery.

Gastric Procedures Q & A

What are gastric ulcers?

Gastric ulcers are ulcers that develop due to stomach acid. An ulcer causes damage to the gut lining, and it typically looks like a tiny crater. Ulcers are often caused by an infection, and are thus typically treated with an acid suppressant medication and antibiotics. However, ulcers can be far more serious. A serious gastric ulcer causes bleeding or internal perforations. Ulcers of this type usually require surgical treatment for a satisfactory resolution.

What’s gastroparesis?

In gastroparesis, the stomach isn’t able to empty food properly. This can cause a number of serious problems in the long term, including poor control of blood sugar, unwanted weight loss, fermentation of food stuck in the stomach, hardening of food into a bezoar that can’t be passed into the intestines, and regular vomiting of food that hasn’t been digested yet. People who suffer from gastroparesis can sometimes be treated with conservative therapy like dietary changes and medication. However, serious cases of gastroparesis may require surgical correction.

What’s gastric cancer?

Gastric cancer causes malignant cells to develop within the stomach lining. There are many possible types of gastric cancer, including adenocarcinomas, lymphomas, carcinoid tumors, and stromal tumors. Gastric cancer develops quietly, often causing no major symptoms until it’s very advanced. Surgical gastrectomy (resection) is the most effective treatment for gastric cancer. A subtotal (partial) surgical gastrectomy is a procedure in which the lower part of the stomach is removed. This procedure is used only if the gastric cancer is isolated near the intestines. In a total gastrectomy, the entire stomach is surgically removed, and the esophagus is then surgically connected to the small intestine. If it’s caught early enough, this surgery can be a cure. If the cancer isn’t diagnosed until later, it still offers significant symptom relief.

What are the advantages of minimally invasive surgery?

Many gastric surgeries can be performed as minimally invasive laparoscopic procedures. The advantages of these procedures include faster recovery, less pain, less bleeding, and smaller incision size. The team of radiologists, gastroenterologists, pathologists, and medical and radiation oncologists at Association of South Bay Surgeons work together to find the best surgical treatment option for each patient.

Our board-certified & fellowship trained surgeons are skilled at diagnosing and treating complex gastric diseases including:

Ulcers
Gastroparesis, dysmotility, functional disorders
Polyps and Cancer

Team Work & Individualized Therapy

Our team includes surgeons with advanced training (Fellowships) in Minimally Invasive Surgery and also Gastric Surgery & Surgical Oncology.
The best care requires radiologists, gastroenterologists, pathologists, and sometimes medical and radiation oncologists.
We work closely with these and other specialists to individualize a treatment plan for you.

Minimally Invasive / Laparoscopic & Endoscopic Surgery

Minimally Invasive / Laparoscopic surgery reduces your pain, reduces your risk of complications, and speeds your recovery.
Endoscopic surgery takes place through the mouth and is completely scar-less.

We are experienced in minimally invasive / laparoscopic & endoscopic gastric surgery such as:

Laparoscopic Gastric Resection
Laparoscopic D2 Lymph Node Dissection for cancers
Laparoscopic Pace Maker placement for gastroparesis
Endoscopic resection of large gastric polyps

Unparallelled Experience

Our surgeons have been faculty at Penn State University and UCLA- Harbor.
We have trained other surgeons to perform gastric surgery.
We have researched and published about these diseases extensively.

GERD Specialist

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, commonly known as GERD, causes some major problems with digestion and overall health. The Association of South Bay Surgeons helps patients deal with the most severe cases of GERD that require specialized surgical correction. To learn more about how surgical intervention can help GERD, contact the offices today.

GERD Q & A

GERD otherwise known as reflux or heartburn is a common condition affecting one of every five Americans. Reflux is when acid from the stomach enters the esophagus (the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach). There can be many conditions that cause this. Most commonly is lower esophageal sphincter weakness that does not provide an adequate pressure valve preventing stomach fluid from entering back into the esophagus. (Please see the diagrams below) There are many medications that can treat the symptoms of reflux disease. Medications like Tums, Zantac or Prilosec do help symptoms however these medications do not correct the problem. These medications you will have to take life long and are not without long-term risks. Long term acid exposure to the esophagus can lead to cancer. If you have symptoms of reflux or heartburn or are on medications seeking another treatment please give us a call for a prompt evaluation. There is a way to live without medications and symptoms of heartburn.

Conditions associated and/or increase your risk of GERD:

Obesity
Pregnancy
Autoimmune diseases/Connective disease disorders
Hiatal hernias (slipping of the stomach into the chest)
Smoking
Eating too much and too quickly
Lying down too soon after eating
Taking nonsteroid medications like Advil, Motrin, Aspirin
Drinking coffee, carbonated beverages, alcohol

What are the symptoms of GERD

Burning sensation in the back of the throat or chest
Hoarse voice
Bitter taste
Dry cough
Nausea, vomiting and regurgitation
Worsening asthma symptoms

What are the treatments for GERD

Medical management with the use of medications such as Zantac or Prilosec. Long term use of these medications can lead to osteoporosis, dementia, vitamin/mineral deficiencies, kidney disease, and increase risk for serious bowel infections (C. Dif Colitis)

Surgical repair. Depending on whether the stomach is in its normal position or has slipped into the chest will determine how to recreate the valve preventing acid from escaping the stomach into the esophagus. The goal of surgery is creating the valve. This can be done by wrapping the stomach around itself called a fundoplication or with titanium-link magnet beads called LINX.

How is reflux/GERD surgery done?

Reflux surgery is done by laparoscopic (keyhole) technique with small incisions and a video camera. Surgery takes about 1-2 hours and requires 1 to 2 days in the hospital.

What’s the recovery from reflux surgery?

Patients usually return home 1-2 days after surgery. All patients will be on a modified liquid diet for 1-2 weeks during the recovery process and the diet advanced to normal shortly thereafter. Most patients have mild surgery incision site pain and muscle discomfort lasting 3-5 days and usually resume full physical activity within 4 weeks.

Esophagus

Our board-certified & fellowship trained surgeons are skilled at diagnosing and treating esophageal diseases including:

Neuro-muscular diseases (achalasia, nutcracker esophagus, esophageal spasm)
Reflux Disease (GERD)
Barrett’s Esophagus
Benign Tumors & Malignant Cancers

Team Work & Individualized Therapy:

Our team includes surgeons with advanced training (Fellowships) in Minimally Invasive Surgery and also Esophageal Surgery & Surgical Oncology.
The best care requires gastroenterologists, radiologists, and sometimes medical and radiation oncologists.
We work closely with these and other specialists to individualize a treatment plan for you.

Minimally Invasive / Laparoscopic & Endoscopic Surgery:

Minimally Invasive / Laparoscopic surgery reduces your pain, reduces your risk of complications, and speeds your recovery
Endoscopic surgery takes place through the mouth and is completely scar-less
We are experienced in minimally invasive / laparoscopic & endoscopic esophageal surgery such as:
Laparoscopic Esophageal Myotomy (Heller procedure)
Per-Oral Esophageal Myotomy (POEM procedure, which is scarless)
Laparoscopic Fundoplication
Endoscopic ablation of Barrett’s Esophagus
Endscopic removal (resection) of polyps and masses
Laparoscopic transhiatal esophagectomy (avoiding any incisions on your chest)