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Acid Reflux or GERD with Morbid Obesity

GERD: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. JAMA 2004;292(14):1724-37.
  Gastric Bypass
% of Patients		 Gastric Banding
% of Patients

Acid Reflux/GERD Resolved

 98% 32.3%


Acid reflux, also known as GERD, occurs when the valve between the stomach and the esophagus is not working. Stomach acid splashes up into the esophagus, which can damage it and lead to painful conditions and cancer. You may want to compare bariatric surgery’s high resolution rates for acid reflux to the long-term effects of this condition.

People with acid reflux are at risk for developing:

  • Esophagitis, inflammation of the esophagus, which can cause difficulty swallowing, ulcers, and scarring
  • Barrett’s esophagus which occurs because the lining of the esophagus is damaged by stomach acid and can lead to esophageal cancer
  • Esophageal cancer (adenocarcinoma) is associated with a low survival rate: only 12% of esophageal cancer patients survive for more than five years
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Surgical Photos
The robotic surgeon is looking up from the esophageal junction during a robotic heller myotomy. The robot is being used to divide the hypertrophic muscle tissue that causes swallowing problems in achalasia. The left hand is being use to spread the muscle while the energy device is used in the right hand to cut through tissue on occasion.

The robotic surgeon is looking up from the esophageal junction during a robotic heller myotomy. The robot is being used to divide the hypertrophic muscle tissue that causes swallowing problems in achalasia. The left hand is being use to spread the muscle while the energy device is used in the right hand to cut through tissue on occasion.

Robotic heller myotomy
This photo demonstrates a patient the first post-operative day after a type IV Hiatal Hernia performed with combination laparoscopy and robotics. The swallow demonstrates reduction of the hernia as well as free flow of contrast past the Nissen wrap into native stomach.

This photo demonstrates a patient the first post-operative day after a type IV Hiatal Hernia performed with combination laparoscopy and robotics. The swallow demonstrates reduction of the hernia as well as free flow of contrast past the Nissen wrap into native stomach.

Swallow study after robotic paraesophageal hernia repair