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Heartburn Treatment
Post Weight Loss Surgery

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Do You Have Acid Reflux After Gastric Sleeve?
Bypass is Not the Only Solution!

The experienced bariatric surgeons at Northwest Weight and Wellness Center (NWWC) offer Ligamentum Teres Cardiopexy to treat acid reflux and chronic heartburn. This procedure is a great Trusetd Source Checkbox Trusted Source Laparoscopic Ligamentum Teres cardiopexy to the rescue; an old procedure with a new use in managing reflux after sleeve gastrectomy, The American Journal of Surgery, Volume 221, Issue 3, 2021 Hawasli A, Foster R, Lew D, Peck L Go to Source option for patients experiencing heartburn after gastric sleeve and can be an effective alternative to gastric bypass surgery.

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Heartburn, Acid Reflux and GERD After Gastric Sleeve Surgery

Gastric sleeve surgery, also known as laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, is a safe and effective bariatric surgery that has helped many patients lose weight and Trusetd Source Checkbox Trusted Source Is Bariatric Surgery Safe? Penn Medicine Go to Source improve their health . Of course, any medical procedure carries some risk of side effects. In the case of gastric sleeve, patients may experience increased heartburn and acid reflux after surgery, with Trusetd Source Checkbox Trusted Source Gastroesophageal reflux-related physiologic changes after sleeve gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: a prospective comparative study Raj PP, Bhattacharya S, Misra S, Kumar SS, Khan MJ, Gunasekaran SC, Palanivelu C Go to Source up to 35% developing gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). There are a range of treatment options available for chronic heartburn, from over-the-counter medications to surgery.

For patients whose heartburn does not respond to treatment and those who develop GERD after gastric sleeve, many bariatric surgeons recommend a sleeve-to-bypass revision surgery. At NWWC, our board-certified surgeons offer another solution: Ligamentum Teres Cardiopexy is an Trusetd Source Checkbox Trusted Source Cardiopexy with Ligamentum Teres in Patients with Hiatal Hernia and Previous Sleeve Gastrectomy: An Alternative Treatment for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Gálvez-Valdovinos R, Cruz-Vigo JL, Marín-Santillán E, Funes-Rodríguez JF, López-Ambriz G, Domínguez-Carrillo LG Go to Source effective and less invasive solution to relieve GERD symptoms for sleeve patients without the need for gastric bypass. Our surgeons have had excellent results with this procedure, which gives patients relief from chronic heartburn and reflux and allows them to reduce or stop using reflux medications.

What is Ligamentum Teres Cardiopexy and How Does it Work?

Acid reflux occurs when stomach acid splashes into the esophagus, which is the tube that connects the stomach to the mouth. When stomach acid flows upward, it irritates the esophagus and causes a painful burning sensation. There is a muscle called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) that typically keeps stomach acid from entering the esophagus, but if the muscle is weakened, it does does not stay closed when it is supposed to—leading to heartburn, acid reflux, or GERD.

In a Ligamentum Teres Cardiopexy procedure, the LES muscle and valve are tightened. The newly strengthened LES prevents stomach acid from flowing upward to the esophagus, and this provides relief from the pain and irritation of acid reflux. Hiatal hernias are also repaired using this procedure.

Preparing for Your Procedure

The first step is to schedule a consultation appointment with one of our experienced and compassionate surgeons. We will review your medical history and discuss your concerns in order to determine your needs. If this is the best treatment option for you, we will give you detailed pre-procedure guidelines.

Recovery After Ligamentum Teres Cardiopexy

Ligamentum Teres Cardiopexy is typically an outpatient procedure performed with general anesthesia. The procedure typically takes less than an hour to complete and patients return home the same day. Patients need to follow a liquid diet for about two weeks after surgery. There may be some swelling during initial recovery, which can mimic reflux symptoms, but once swelling subsides, patients can expect relief from reflux.

Am I a Candidate for Ligamentum Teres Cardiopexy?

If you suffer from frequent heartburn or acid reflux, this procedure may be an effective option for you. Patients who have previously had gastric sleeve surgery and are seeking a solution for reflux or GERD can benefit from this procedure. Schedule a consultation appointment to determine if you are a candidate.

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This place is amazing! The staff are very kind, and knowledgeable. They walk you through the entire process, and stay with you long after your surgery is complete.
Kelly M. - Google Reviews
The staff is absolutely amazing. There was so much support in preparation and post opp. They become almost a family, and they are very invested in your success.
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1 Hawasli A, Foster R, Lew D, Peck L. Laparoscopic Ligamentum Teres cardiopexy to the rescue; an old procedure with a new use in managing reflux after sleeve gastrectomy, The American Journal of Surgery, Volume 221, Issue 3, 2021.

2 Penn Medicine. Is Bariatric Surgery Safe? Available: https://www.pennmedicine.org/updates/blogs/metabolic-and-bariatric-surgery-blog/2019/may/is-bariatric-surgery-safe Accessed July 15, 2022

3 Raj PP, Bhattacharya S, Misra S, Kumar SS, Khan MJ, Gunasekaran SC, Palanivelu C. Gastroesophageal reflux-related physiologic changes after sleeve gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: a prospective comparative study. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2019 Aug;15(8):1261-1269. doi: 10.1016/j.soard.2019.05.017. Epub 2019 May 20. PMID: 31279562.

4 Gálvez-Valdovinos R, Cruz-Vigo JL, Marín-Santillán E, Funes-Rodríguez JF, López-Ambriz G, Domínguez-Carrillo LG. Cardiopexy with Ligamentum Teres in Patients with Hiatal Hernia and Previous Sleeve Gastrectomy: An Alternative Treatment for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease. Obes Surg. 2015 Aug;25(8):1539-43. doi: 10.1007/s11695-015-1740-5. PMID: 25990381.

The providers at Northwest Weight & Wellness Center have either authored or reviewed and approved this content.

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