GENERAL & WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) causes indigestion or heartburn. When medications do not relieve GERD symptoms, acid reflux surgery may be necessary. Surgery to help you lose weight is sometimes the only way to address the underlying increased intra-abdominal pressure that might be contributing and pre-disposing patients to GERD in addition to addressing the anatomic problems which may need to be addressed concurrently.

A hernia is an abnormal protrusion in the abdominal wall which may become painful. Surgical intervention is needed to prevent life-threatening complications. Increased abdominal pressure from obesity might be an important contributing factor and weight loss surgery can help reduce this effectively. Hernia repair can be typically performed at the same time as bariatric or weight loss surgery.

This organ stores and concentrates bile produced by the liver. Excessive extraction of fluids from the bile can result in sludge which can turn into stones. The stones can obstruct the flow of bile causing inflammation for which surgery to remove the gallbladder is recommended. Gallbladder disease is associated with obesity and ~15-30% of patients undergoing weight loss surgery can develop gallbladder problems, therefore concurrent gallbladder removal during weight loss surgery may help prevent later re-operations.

During an Upper Gastrointestinal (UGI) endoscopy, a thin, flexible tube with a camera is used to examine the inner lining of the throat, food pipe, stomach and upper small intestine. Samples are obtained to evaluate certain symptoms and check for inflammation and infection. UGI endsocopy or Esophago-Gastro Duodenoscopy or EGD as it is sometimes referred is commonly performed to assess the these areas prior to weight loss surgery