Reflux and Gastrointestinal Surgery Program

The Reflux and Gastrointestinal Surgery Program within the TriHealth Surgical Institute offers integrated care and surgical expertise in the management and treatment of conditions affecting the esophagus, stomach, and the duodenum. Our program brings together specialty experts including gastroenterologists, surgeons, otolaryngologists and radiologists to assure comprehensive care from diagnosis through treatment. This team is dedicated to the assessment and individualized care plan to meet each patient’s unique needs and preferences.

As part of our integrated, multi-disciplinary approach to your care, we work closely with specialists across the board, including physicians and practitioners from TriHealth Digestive Institute, Trihealth Weight Management Program and TriHealth Cancer Institute, as well your primary care physician, nurses, and nutritionists, to develop the best plan for you. We want to assure seamless return to the care of your primary care physician following your treatment success.

If surgery is part of that plan, our program surgeons specialize in these types of surgeries. With this specialization comes their ability to perform higher volumes in these types of surgery which research has demonstrated, leads to better outcomes. They use state of the art technology and perform surgeries almost entirely using minimally invasive techniques. Minimally invasive surgical approaches, including robotic and laparoscopic surgery, are just a few examples of the advanced techniques utilized by our team. Advantages of such methods include:

• Smaller incisions, less pain, and less requirement for pain medications
• Shorter hospital stay
• Faster recovery with earlier recovery of bowel function and resumption of eating
• Earlier return to work/ full activity

Conditions We Treat

Hiatal or Paraesophageal Hernia A hiatal hernia is a condition in which the top of the stomach bulges through a natural opening in the diaphragm. The diaphragm is the large muscle that separates your stomach and chest and helps you breathe.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease/GERD Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) occurs when stomach acid frequently flows back into the tube connecting your mouth and stomach (esophagus). This backwash (acid reflux) can irritate the lining of your esophagus.

Achalasia Achalasia is a relatively uncommon condition in which the valve between the esophagus and the stomach doesn’t work correctly---it does not open to allow food to move into the stomach, resulting in it backing up in the esophagus.