Terry from Woodlands, TX, sent us this question: “I had the Nissen fundoplication done 11 years ago & had difficulty swallowing immediately & shortness of breath among abdominal pain & discomfort, gas/bloating & have to have esophagus stretched two to four times every year. Wondering if I should have Nissen fundoplication undone then have the LINX™ procedure-very unhappy these past 11 years. Thank you.”
Dear Terry,
A properly performed Nissen fundoplication for the right acid reflux patient is not associated with difficulty swallowing, shortness of breath, bloating and abdominal pain. Rather, a properly performed Nissen Fundoplication and hiatal hernia repair is the most reliable treatment for acid reflux. Nissen fundoplication has a very success rate. It improves quality of life. At Houston Heartburn and Reflux Center, we have a very high patient satisfaction rate following Nissen fundoplication surgery.
Nissen fundoplication is a technically demanding surgery. GERD is a complicated disease. For this reason, we have dedicated our practice to acid reflux management. We do one thing and one thing only, but we do it right. We don’t offer LINX™ surgery because it is an inferior procedure to a properly performed Nissen fundoplication. Unfortunately, patients with poorly performed Nissen fundoplication blame the surgery rather than the surgeon for poor outcome. Not all Nissen fundoplications are created equal.
My advice for you is to get evaluated by a competent acid reflux specialist. The fact that you need esophagus stretching 2 to 4 times a year is a clear indication that your fundoplication was not properly performed. That does not translate into LINX™ surgery is a better option for you than Nissen fundoplication.