The one question that every single acid reflux patient asks me prior to Nissen fundoplication surgery is: Will I be able to vomit after surgery?
The short answer is no. You cannot vomit after Nissen fundoplication because the Nissen wrap creates a one-way valve: food can enter the stomach, but acid, bile and food cannot back up into esophagus.
What Exactly Happens if You Cannot Vomit?
If you get food poisoning or develop a viral gastroenteritis in the setting of Nissen fundoplication, you may experience nausea and dry heaving, but vomiting will not happen. Stomach squeezes the food down through the pylorus (stomach outlet) and into intestines. You may develop diarrhea, but you will not experience worse nausea and dry heaving because you have a Nissen fundoplication.
At Houston Heartburn and Reflux Center, GERD patients preparing for hiatal hernia repair and Nissen fundoplication, understand that the inability to vomit after surgery is not a complication. Rather, it is an expected outcome of successful anti-reflux surgery.
If you have acid reflux disease and you are contemplating Nissen fundoplication to stop acid reflux and improve your quality of life, give us a call at 832-945-8717.