A laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication is a minimally invasive surgery used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease commonly known as GERD. GERD can cause many uncomfortable and often painful symptoms like heartburn, sore throat and chest pain. For many patients, diet and lifestyle changes aren’t enough to resolve their GERD symptoms.
If you or a loved one is dealing with chronic symptoms caused by GERD, you may qualify for laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication (LNF). At Northeast Georgia Physicians Group (NGPG) Heartburn and Swallowing our team specializes in the LNF procedure to treat GERD, helping you get back to life symptom-free faster.
What is an LNF?
The most common surgery for GERD is laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication (LNF). This procedure typically requires several small punctures to insert the laparoscopic camera and instruments into the abdomen. The surgeon then uses an adjacent portion of the stomach—the fundus—to wrap around the defective lower esophageal sphincter (LES) and make it suitably resistant to gastroesophageal regurgitation.
At NGPG Heartburn & Swallowing our goal with surgery is to have complete control of heartburn and regurgitation, have no requirement for acid-reducing medications and allow the patient to eat whatever they like. Studies show patients treated surgically have a better quality of life than those managed with medication alone.
One of the best ways to understand surgical treatment is to talk to someone who has been through it. If you’d like, we’ll have a former surgical patient contact you to discuss their experience.
Who should get an LNF?
While surgery isn’t usually the first response to treat GERD, some patients may need it. The LNS procedure is available to adults and adolescents that haven’t found GERD relief with non-invasive treatments. Some factors that make people a candidate for LNS include:
- Lack of response to other treatments.
- Developing a hiatal hernia.
- Severe esophageal damage from acid.
- Repeated aspirations or other issues.
Who performs an LNF?
The laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication procedure is typically performed by a general surgeon. At NGPG Heartburn & Swallowing Dr. Casey Graybeal performs LNF procedures for our patients suffering from GERD.
What happens during an LNF?
The surgery takes 45 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the complexity of the individual patient’s anatomy, prior surgeries or the need for more specialized techniques.
- Anesthesia: You will likely receive general anesthesia for your LNF and be asleep for the entirety of the procedure.
- Incision: Your surgeon will make several small incisions in your abdomen.
- Laparoscope: Your surgeon will insert a laparoscope and other small tools to wrap the stomach around the esophagus to prevent acid reflux.
- Closing: Lastly, your surgeon will close your incisions with stitches.
Patients typically are discharged the following morning on a soft diet that they will follow for several weeks while healing occurs and return to normal activities in about a week.
Choose NGPG for Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication
Although esophageal sphincter surgery has been performed for over 50 years, the use of advanced laparoscopic techniques has made surgical treatment much easier. Studies show that an experienced surgeon is essential to obtain good results.
At NGPG Heartburn & Swallowing, our surgeons are experts at anti-reflux surgery and the most experienced in this area of Georgia, with hundreds of successfully treated patients. We perform all surgeries at Northeast Georgia Medical Center, where you will have access to the latest minimally-invasive technology and expert care.