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In this Article

• What causes GERD in infants and children?
• What are the symptoms of GERD in infants and children?
• Will my baby outgrow infantile GERD?
• How is GERD in infants and children diagnosed?
• What are the treatments for acid reflux in infants and children?
• Medications for GERD
• Surgery for GERD
• Patient Discussions: GERD in Infants and Children -Symptoms
• GERD in Infants and Children Glossary
• GERD in Infants and Children Index
• Find a local Pediatric Gastroenterology in your town

Surgery for GERD

Surgery is not often used to treat GERD in children. When it is necessary, the Nissen fundoplication is the most often performed surgery. During this procedure, the top part of the stomach is wrapped around the lower esophagus. This procedure forms a cuff that contracts and closes off the esophagus when the stomach contracts, preventing reflux. In some patients, a pyloroplasty to improve gastric emptying may be performed at the same time. A pyloroplasty is a surgical procedure in which the lower portion of the stomach, the pylorus, is cut and re-sutured to relax the muscle and widen the opening into the intestine. The Nissen fundoplication procedure is usually effective, but it is not without risk. Discuss the potential risks and benefits of this operation with your child's doctor.

SOURCES:

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse.

American Association of Family Physicians.

Medscape.

Reviewed by Jonathan L Gelfand, MD on July 10, 2008

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