Heartburn and reflux

This is a wireless capsule implanted just above your lower esophageal sphincter (LES). It allows you to go on with normal daily activities without the tube inside your nose, while we are able to obtain 24 to 48 hours' worth of data measuring the acid exposure to the esophagus.

The wireless capsule transmits information to a receiver that you clip on your clothing. During the day, you press a button on the receiver when you are having symptoms. This enables us to correlate moments of acid reflux with symptoms.

This procedure is performed while you are under sedation. It involves the physician placing a camera through the mouth to visualize the esophagus, stomach and small intestine.

In moderate to severe cases of acid reflux, the lining of the esophagus appears inflamed. Endoscopy can also rule out any tumors or narrowing of the esophagus. If there is an abnormal transformation of the lining of the esophagus, your gastroenterologist may biopsy the area to rule out Barrett's esophagus or esophageal cancer.

A thin, pressure-sensitive tube is passed through your mouth or nose into your stomach. When the tube is in your esophagus, you are asked to swallow sips of water. The pressure of the muscle contractions is measured along the length of your esophagus.

This procedure is typically done without sedation, but minimal sedation is used if a patient cannot tolerate the examination. After the test is completed, the manometry is used to measure the LES effectiveness at preventing reflux.

⁠During an esophagram, you drink either a barium or a water-based contrast that coats your upper digestive tract. This provides a clear image of your esophagus, stomach and the upper part of your small intestine on an X-ray. This study is helpful in seeing complications of reflux, such as esophageal strictures and ulcers, throughout the upper GI tract.

• 24-hour esophageal pH monitoring
• Abdominal ultrasound
• Barium swallow test
• Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD)
• Gastric emptying study
• Hepatobiliary iminodiacetic acid (HIDA) scan
• Upper GI series

Often, over-the-counter medications, dietary changes and lifestyle changes can help control or limit the symptoms associated with GERD. However, if lifestyle changes and noninvasive treatments do not relieve your symptoms, surgery may be an effective option.

There are times when the underlying cause of GERD cannot be resolved with medications or other noninvasive treatments. In these cases, we offer specialized surgical options, including Nissen fundoplication and transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF).

If your gastroenterologist suggests GERD surgery, they will discuss with you which option will be effective for your unique condition. Often, we are able to use minimally invasive procedures to treat GERD. Minimally invasive surgical techniques, such as robotic surgery, allow our surgeons to make very small incisions, which typically result in a faster recovery for you.

Our teams will be with you throughout your surgical experience — from preoperative care to recovery — to ensure you feel secure and well-informed throughout your treatment.

HCA Florida operates with a robust network that is dedicated to you and improving your overall health. By working collectively and collaboratively, our GI doctors, abdominal surgeons and abdominal pain specialists provide you with excellent, multidisciplinary GI services.

• Hoarseness or sore throat
• Frequent swallowing
• Asthma or asthma-like symptoms
• Pain or discomfort in the chest
• Sleep disruption
• Bloating
• Excessive clearing of the throat
• Persistent cough
• Burning in the mouth or throat
• Intolerance of certain foods
• Dental erosions or therapy-resistant gum disease or inflammation

We offer surgical solutions for GERD.

In addition to traditional endoscopic treatments, we also offer

• TIF, or Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication: a minimally invasive endoscopic procedure that restores function of the gastroesophageal valve, preventing stomach acids refluxing back into the esophagus.
• C-TIF, or Concomitant Transoral Incisionless Fundoplication: a variant of the TIF procedure where surgeons perform a hiatal hernia repair with the TIF procedure. This procedure is typically for patients with larger hiatal hernias in addition to GERD.

Many of our treatment options include minimally invasive procedures to help you recover quicker and get back to your life faster. We perform the following treatments: Heller myotomy, Nissen fundoplication, lower esophageal sphincter augmentation, endoscopic stapling and medical management with endoscopic surveillance