One of the health problems that many people frequently complain about today is reflux. Reflux, which is common in our society, is a disease that can manifest itself from childhood and negatively affects life. Laparoscopic surgery attempts, which have developed in recent years, make reflux patients smile. General Surgery Specialist Op. Dr. Fatih Kar explained.
Referring to how reflux disease occurs, Op. Dr. Fatih Kar, “Reflux is the reflux of acid in the stomach back into the esophagus. The escaping acid causes some damage in and around the esophagus, and related complaints occur. We can see many complaints in the middle of reflux, we can see only one or a few of these complaints. The main complaints can be seen as chest pain, chest burning, bitter water in the mouth, chest tightness and pressure, hoarseness, chronic cough in a tickling style, pain in the middle of the back. Reflux can be confused with a heart attack because it also gives symptoms with chest pain that comes in a very rapid form at night and can cause rhythm disturbances in the cycle period heart. For this reason, it is shown in the middle of the most valuable non-cardiac causes who apply to the emergency services with chest pain. In this respect, these patients who come with chest pain should definitely be evaluated in terms of reflux.”
IMPROPER NUTRITION TRIGGERS REFLUX!
Referring to the negative impact of malnutrition on reflux, Kar said, “Reflux is more threatening to those who work in stressful jobs, those who consume heavy coffee and tea, those who smoke, those who do not train, and those who have the habit of eating late. Among the foods that can trigger reflux in the stomach are raw salad, onions, garlic, hot chili peppers, pickles, oranges, grapefruit. We definitely do not recommend these to be consumed especially in the late hours for reflux patients. On the other hand, night sleep is very valuable in reflux patients. The horizontal position when the person sleeps causes the angle between the esophagus and the stomach to straighten. During sleep, gastric acid secretion is also more common. That’s why reflux problems are usually worse at night.
For this, the patient must determine a suitable hospitalization status. By using a reflux pillow or by raising the head of the bed, bringing the patient from the waist to a slightly vertical position will allow him to spend the night comfortably. It is possible to get over reflux by taking these measures and making sports a habit by acting within the diet program that will be given to him”
THOSE WHO WHO CANNOT CREATE REFLUX GO TO SURGERY!
Early age is a very valuable factor in patients who are offered medical treatment. Namely, a 25-year-old patient may have to use a stomach medication continuously. If we consider the average lifespan of patients as 80, it is not a real behavior to be sentenced to 50-60 years of medication. In such cases, surgery may be on the agenda. Because long-term use of drugs can disrupt stomach absorption, as well as cause calcium and iron deficiencies.
Related problems such as bone problems and anemia may occur. If the problems can be resolved with short-term drug use, lifestyle, nutrition and exercise, no other treatment is required. However, despite all these, if the complaints do not go away and reflux attacks increase together with complaints such as chest tightness and hoarseness, then surgery should be brought to the agenda.
In the surgery, we form the valve system, such as the ink arrow, to the exit of the esophagus instead of the junction of the esophagus and the stomach. This is a closed, laparoscopic surgery. It takes 45 minutes on average. The patients are kept under surveillance in the hospital environment for 1 day and they stop using the drug the same day. The quality of life of these patients improves significantly after these operations and they do not need to use drugs again.
Relapses are completely related to the quality of the surgery. After a good operation, the recurrence rate can drop to 2-3%. Since a new valve mechanism is created there after the operation, the patients need diet harmony. A few weeks of liquid foods, then heavy pureed foods, and within a few months, the portions can be reduced to normal food.
