What is GERD?

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) results when gastric acid, food, and liquid from the stomach chronically flow up into the esophagus (the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach), producing a burning sensation and other types of discomforts. GERD is caused by a weakness or transient relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) muscle. The LES is located between the esophagus and the stomach.

When you eat, food and liquid travel down the esophagus to the stomach. Once these substances arrive at the stomach, the muscle tone of the LES helps keep stomach contents from refluxing or moving backward into the esophagus. But when the LES is weakened, stomach contents may reflux – flow backward—into the esophagus, which can cause the burning sensation in the chest known as heartburn.

Treatments

The goals of treatment include reducing the amount of acid produced in the stomach, strengthening the sphincter muscle and reducing the amount of food, liquid, and stomach acid that flow backward into the esophagus from the stomach.

Benefits

Minimally invasive solutions are preferred whenever possible, allowing less tissue damage, faster recovery time, and less scarring than open surgery.