Fundoplication Center - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham Surgeon Doctors for FundoplicationType of Physician: Surgeon What is a Surgeon? A certification by the Board of Surgery; practitioners manage a wide range of surgical conditions affecting almost any area of the body. The surgeon provides the diagnosis and the care to patients before, during and after surgery. The surgeon is usually responsible for the comprehensive management of trauma victims and the critically ill. The surgeon has special knowledge and skills in birth defects, tumors, infections and metabolic problems relating to the head and neck, breast, abdomen, extremities including the hand, and the gastrointestinal, vascular and endocrine systems. A general surgeon is expected to be familiar with the most relevant features of other surgical specialties in order to recognize problems in those areas and to know when to refer a patient to another specialist. Specialty: Surgery Common Name: Surgeon Doctors in Bellingham * William Baader MD  Drs Bachman & Kaufman  Northwest Surgical Associates  Drs Bachman & Kaufman  James Lohse MD  James Lohse MD  Drs Vandergriend & Vandergriend  Peace Health Medical Group  Island Surgeons  Island Surgeons  Island Surgeons  Skagit Valley Medical Center  Skagit Valley Medical Center  Skagit Valley Medical Center  Surgical Center  Surgical Center  Cascade Surgeons  Cascade Surgeons  Cascade Surgeons  Everett Clinic Surgery  Everett Clinic Surgery  Everett Clinic Surgery  Everett Clinic Surgery  Everett Clinic Surgery  Everett Clinic Surgery  Ankle & Foot Clinic of Everett  Ankle & Foot Clinic of Everett  Ankle & Foot Clinic of Everett  Everett Vascular Surgical Associates  Everett Vascular Surgical Associates  Western Washington Medical Group  Everett Vascular Surgical Associates  Everett Vascular Surgical Associates  Surgical Associates Of Edmonds  Surgical Associates Of Edmonds  Surgical Associates Of Edmonds  Surgical Associates Of Edmonds  Alan Zend MD  Puget Sound Surgical Center  Puget Sound Surgical Center  Monroe General Surgery  Monroe General Surgery  Charles R Strub MD  Sheila C Lally DO  Northwest Surgical Specialists  Northwest Surgical Specialists  Northwest Surgical Specialists  Northwest Surgical Specialists  Northwest Surgical Specialists  Chau Su Ou MD  Pacific Medical Centers Northgate Clinic  Evergreen Surgical Clinic  Evergreen Surgical Clinic  Evergreen Surgical Clinic  Evergreen Surgical Clinic  Lake Washington Vascular & General Surgeons  Evergreen Surgical Clinic  UWMC Surgical Specialties Clinic  UWMC Surgical Specialties Clinic  UWMC Surgical Specialties Clinic  UWMC Surgical Specialties Clinic  UWMC Surgical Specialties Clinic  UWMC Surgical Specialties Clinic  UWMC Surgical Specialties Clinic  UWMC Surgical Specialties Clinic  UWMC Surgical Specialties Clinic  UWMC Surgical Specialties Clinic  UWMC Surgical Specialties Clinic  UWMC Surgical Specialties Clinic  UWMC Surgical Specialties Clinic  UWMC Surgical Specialties Clinic  UWMC Surgical Specialties Clinic  UWMC Surgical Specialties Clinic  UWMC Surgical Specialties Clinic  UWMC Surgical Specialties Clinic  UWMC Surgical Specialties Clinic  UWMC Surgical Specialties Clinic  UWMC Surgical Specialties Clinic  UWMC Eye Center  UWMC Surgical Specialties Clinic  UWMC Surgical Specialties Clinic  UWMC Surgical Specialties Clinic  First Hill Surgeons  First Hill Surgeons  First Hill Surgeons  First Hill Surgeons  Surgery Clinic  Surgery Clinic  The Polyclinic Surgery  The Polyclinic Surgery  The Polyclinic Surgery  The Polyclinic Surgery  Virginia Mason Seattle Main  Virginia Mason Seattle Main  Lisa S Florence MD  Colon & Rectal Clinic  Stephen L Goldman MD  Swedish Surgical Practices  Drs Hart Florence & Horton  Colon & Rectal Clinic Bellingham, WashingtonUpcoming Local Events2012-06-03
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FundoplicationRead the Fundoplication article » What is fundoplication?Fundoplication is the standard surgical method for treating gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD causes inflammation, pain (heartburn), and other serious complications (such as scarring and stricture) of the esophagus. GERD results when acid refluxes (regurgitates, or backwashes) from the stomach back up into the esophagus. Under normal conditions, there is a barrier to reflux of acid. One part of this barrier is the lower-most muscle of the esophagus (called the lower esophageal sphincter). Most of the time, this muscle is contracted (constricted, or tight), which closes off the esophagus from the stomach. In patients with GERD, the sphincter does not function normally. The muscle is either weak or relaxes inappropriately. Fundoplication is a surgical technique that strengthens the barrier to acid reflux when the sphincter does not function normally. What happens during fundoplication?During the fundoplication procedure, the part of the stomach that is closest to the entry of the esophagus (the fundus of the stomach) is gathered, wrapped, and sutured (sewn) around the lower end of the esophagus and the lower esophageal sphincter. (The gathering and suturing of one tissue to another is called plication.) This procedure increases the pressure at the lower end of the esophagus and thereby reduces acid reflux. Also, during fundoplication, other surgical steps frequently are taken that also may reduce acid reflux. For instance, if the patient has a hiatal hernia (which occurs in 80% of patients with GERD), the hernial sac may be pulled down from the chest and sutured so that it remains within the abdomen. Additionally, the opening in the diaphragm through which the esophagus passes from the chest into the abdomen also may be tightened. Fundoplication may be done using a large incision (laparotomy in the abdomen or thoracotomy in the chest) or a ... Recommended Reading Related to FundoplicationWhat is achalasia?Achalasia is a rare disease of the muscle of the esophagus (swallowing tube). The term achalasia means "failure to relax" and refers to the inability of the lower esophageal sphincter (a ring of muscle situated between the lower esophagus and the stomach) to open and let food pass into the stomach. As a result, patients with achalasia have difficulty in swallowing food.
How does the normal esophagus function?The esophagus has three functional parts. The uppermost part is the upper esophageal sphincter, a specialized ring of muscle that forms the upper end of the tubular esophagus and separates the esophagus from the throat. The upper sphincter remains closed most of the time to prevent food in the main part of the esophagus from backing up into the throat. The main part of the esophagus is referred to as the body of the esophagus, a long, muscular tube approximately 20 cm (8 in) in length. The th... Other Related Fundoplication ArticlesEmergency Contact for Bellingham
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Suggested Reading on Fundoplication by Our Doctors
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Related Diseases & Conditions
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Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
- GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) is a condition in which the acidified liquid contents of the stomach backs up into the esophagus. The symptoms of uncomplicated GERD are heartburn, regurgitation, and nausea. Effective treatment is available for most patients with GERD.
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Hiatal Hernia
- A hiatal hernia is an anatomical abnormality in which part of the stomach protrudes through the diaphragm and up into the chest. Causes of hiatal hernia are a larger than normal esophageal hiatus. There are two types of hiatal hernias, sliding, or para-esophageal. When symptoms of hiatal hernia appear, they are similar to GERD symptoms. Hiatal hernia treatment is generally surgery.
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Barrett's Esophagus
- Barrett's esophagus occurs as a complication of chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), primarily in white males. GERD refers to the reflux of acidic fluid from the stomach into the esophagus (the swallowing tube), and is classically associated with heartburn.
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Esophagitis
- Esophagitis is caused by an infection or irritation of the esophagus. Infections that cause esophagitis include candida yeast infection of the esophagus as well as herpes.
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Achalasia
- Achalasia is a disease of the esophagus that mainly affects young adults. Abnormal function of nerves and muscles of the esophagus causes difficulty swallowing and sometimes chest pain.
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GERD and Acid Reflux in Infants and Children
- GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) is the upward movement of stomach content, including acid, into the esophagus and sometimes into or out of the mouth. Common symptoms of GERD in children include colic, feeding problems, poor growth, frequent vomiting or coughing, heartburn, regurgitation, recurrent wheezing, pneumonia, choking, or gagging. Treatment may involve elevating the child's bed, keeping the child upright after eating, limiting foods that seem to make the reflux worse, encouraging your child to exercise, and serving several small meals a day.
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Schatzki's Ring
- Schatzki (Schatzki's) ring, is a narrow ring of tissue located just above the junction of the esophagus and stomach. The cause of Schatzki ring is not clearly known, however, some doctors believe they are caused by long term acid reflux. The symptoms of a Schatzki ring is primarily poorly chewed food that stays in chunks becoming stuck in the esophagus. Diagnosis of Schatzki's ring is barium x-ray or endoscopy. Treatment is generally a procedure to stretch or fracture the rings.
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The Digestive System
- Digestion is the complex process of turning food you eat into the energy you need to survive. The digestive process also involves creating waste to be eliminated, and is made of a series of muscles that coordinate the movement of food.
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Heartburn
- Heartburn is a burning sensation experienced from acid reflux (GERD). Symptoms of heartburn include chest pain, burning in the throat, difficulty swallowing, the feeling of food sticking in the throat, and a burning feeling in the chest. Causes of heartburn include dietary habits, lifestyle habits, and medical causes. Treatments for heartburn include lifestyle changes, OTC medication, prescription medication, and surgery.
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Reflux Laryngitis
- Acid backing up into the larynx (voice box), it causes reflux laryngitis. Irritation of the lining of the esophagus, larynx, and throat can lead to esophagitis, sinusitis, strictures, hoarseness, throat clearing, swallowing problems, asthma, chronic cough, and more. Typical symptoms of reflux laryngitis include heartburn, hoarseness, or a sensation of a foreign body in the throat. Reflux laryngitis can be treated with OTC medication, prescription medication, and lifestyle changes.
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