Posted 8/12/2012 8:37 PM (GMT 0)
I read this forum most days, cuicui. You can ask here or on the allergy forum, on which I also posted to you. I don't take emails from forums.
Re: lap vs open surgery for paraesophageal - I would go with the lap doc if he is experienced enough. I would ask what his success rate is for this type of surgery and how many para's he's done. I was recommended to go to UPMC Presbyterian in Pittsburgh as the ONLY place to go in this area for this serious surgery, and they did it laproscopically. Do understand that you have to agree to the possibility of having the surgery converted to open if it is necessary.
Part of the procedure is getting all the tests right. It doesn't make any difference if you get a lot of acid on the Bravo or other test to prove you have reflux. Paraesophageal hiatal hernias "aren't going to repair themselves" as my doc there said. You do want the tests that show if you have a weak swallow and also how long your esophagus is. They have to know how far down they need to have the wrap to keep it under the diaphragm and also how tight to make it so you can swallow past it. The younger surgeons at Presby are so good now I would highly recommend the place and not worry about a particular surgeon. The group can brag thousands of procedures done, well into the 90s for success rate. The surgeons there have been doing these since the '90s or longer and have tried all the "new" schemes in their research and have rejected most for not good enough satisfaction rate.