What does the operation involve?

The operation is performed under a general anaesthetic and usually takes 1 to 2 hours.

Your surgeon will use laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery as this is associated with less pain, less scarring and a faster return to normal activities.

They will make several small cuts on your abdomen so they can insert tubes (ports) into your abdomen. Your surgeon will insert surgical instruments through the ports along with a telescope so they can see inside your abdomen and perform the operation.

They will stitch your diaphragm to reduce the size of the hole your oesophagus passes through.

Your surgeon will wrap and stitch the top part of your stomach around your lower oesophagus, to produce a valve effect.

What complications can happen?

Some of these can be serious and can even cause death.

General complications of any operation

• Pain
• Bleeding
• Unsightly scarring of your skin
• Developing a hernia in the scar
• Infection of the surgical site (wound)
• Blood clot in your leg
• Blood clot in your lung

Specific complications of this operation

Keyhole surgery complications

• Damage to structures such as your bowel, bladder or blood vessels
• Developing a hernia near one of the cuts
• Surgical emphysema (crackling sensation in your skin caused by trapped carbon dioxide gas)

Nissen Fundoplication complications

• Pneumothorax, where air escapes into the space around your lung
• Making a hole in your oesophagus or stomach
• Tear of the stitches used for the wrap
• Damage to your liver
• Damage to your spleen
• Difficulty swallowing for a few months

Long-term problems

• Continued difficulty swallowing where you cannot swallow most foods normally
• Incomplete control of reflux symptoms
• Weight loss
• Abdominal discomfort
• Diarrhoea
• Tissues can join together in an abnormal way

New Victoria Hospital has been awarded JAG accreditation by the Royal College of Physicians, offering our patients full confidence in the high quality and safety standards of our Endoscopy services.