General Infos

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Reflux or acid regurgitation is the reflux of stomach contents into the oesophagus. To a certain extent, this is a normal phenomenon and occasionally occurs with everybody. However, if reflux episodes occur more frequently and over a longer period of time with the corresponding symptoms, we refer to it as a reflux disease. There are various causes or triggers that enable the reflux of stomach contents into the oesophagus. This primarily includes a weakness of the oesophageal sphincter, which is often accompanied by a hiatal hernia. A hiatal hernia occurs when parts of the stomach slip up through the opening in the diaphragm into the chest cavity, to the extent the transition from the oesophagus to the stomach is deposited above the diaphragmatic passage. 
 

In the case of typical reflux symptoms, a gastroscopy is performed as the initial diagnostic step. This often displays damage to the mucous membrane (inflammation) of the lower section of the oesophagus. 
 

Treatment of reflux disease is primarily conservative, i.e., based on acid-inhibiting medication. This leads to an improvement in symptoms relatively quickly in most patients. However, a relapse often occurs after suspending the medication. In selected patients who do not respond adequately to conservative treatment with proton pump inhibitors (strong acid-inhibiting drugs), do not tolerate them or who reject long-term medication, we offer surgical therapy following intensive clarification.