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Anti-reflux surgery - Risks

Alternative Names

Fundoplication; Nissen fundoplication; Belsey (Mark IV) fundoplication; Toupet fundoplication; Thal fundoplication; Hiatal hernia repair; Endoluminal fundoplication

Risks:

Risks for any anesthesia are:

Reactions to medicines
Breathing problems, including pneumonia
Heart problems

Risks for any surgery are:

Bleeding
Infection

Risks for this surgery are:

Gas bloat, which makes it hard to burp or throw up. It also causes bloating after meals. These symptoms slowly get better for most people.
Pain and difficulty when you swallow, for some people. This is called dysphagia. For most people, this goes away in the first 3 months after surgery.
Damage to the stomach, esophagus, liver, or small intestine. This is very rare.
Respiratory complications, such as a collapsed lung. This is also rare.
Recurrence of the hiatal hernia

Hiatal hernia - X-ray

Hiatal hernia repair - series

Reviewed last on: 2/7/2009
George F Longstreth, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program San Diego, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Brant K, Oelschlager BK, Eubanks TR, Pellegrini CA. Hiatal hernia and gastroesophageal reflux disease. In: Sabiston Textbook of Surgery, 18th ed. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders; 2007:chap 42.

Kahrilas PJ, Shaheen NJ, Vaezi MF, Hiltz SW, Black E, Modlin IM. American Gastroenterological Association medical position statement on the management of gastroesophageal reflux disease. Gastroenterology. 2008;135:1383-1391.

Wilson JF. In the clinic: gastroesophageal reflux disease. Ann Intern Med. 2008;149(3):ITC2-1-ITC2-15.

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