UAE: Anti-reflux surgery is available in the UAE with Dr. Jose-Luis Gallego, consultant general surgeon at Mediclinic Welcare Hospital. He is one of the only doctors in the country to perform this surgery.
Gastroesophageal reflux, also known as acid reflux, occurs when the stomach contents reflux back up into the oesophagus and/or the mouth. Reflux is a normal process that occurs in healthy infants, children and adults, and occurs only rarely during sleep. Most episodes are brief and do not cause bothersome symptoms or complications.
In contrast, people with gastroesophageal reflux experience bothersome symptoms or injuries into the oesophagus as a result of the reflux, including heartburn, regurgitation, vomiting, difficult or painful swallowing. The reflux of stomach acid can adversely affect the vocal cords causing hoarseness or even be inhaled into the lungs, called aspiration, producing recurrent lung infections.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease is treated according to the severity. Initial treatment for mild symptoms include some medicines to reduce the gastric acid, and lifestyle changes such as weight loss, raising the head of the bed, avoiding some foods, stopping smoking, or avoiding large and late meals.
When the symptoms are not well controlled, complications appear or the patient does not want to continue with medical treatment, surgical treatment must be considered.
Anti-reflux surgery involves repairing the hiatus hernia and strengthening the lower oesophageal sphincter. The most common surgical treatment is the laparoscopic nissen fundoplication, which involves wrapping the upper part of the stomach around the lower part of the oesophagus. At the same time the hiatus hernia can be repaired.
Usually the outcomes of surgery are very good, and the procedure can be done as a day hospital admission, with the patient able to recover normal activity in less than two weeks. Furthermore, this is the only way to allow the patient to stop extended medical treatment for the condition. Excellent results are achieved in more than 90% of cases. Complications that can occur are persistent difficulty in swallowing, a sense of bloating and gas or breakdown of the repair.
Dr. Gallego earned a bachelor of medicine and surgery from Universidad Complutense in Madrid, Spain and is certified as a specialist in general and digestive surgery by the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science.
He has worked as head of obesity and metabolic surgery, minimally invasive surgery and digestive and general surgery at the Hospital Universitario Carlos Haya in Málaga, Spain. He has had his own private practice at Dr. Galvez Hospital and Parque San Antonio Hospital, and was also a surgeon at Carlos Haya Regional University Hospital.
His special interests include anti-reflux surgery, bariatric metabolic and advanced laparoscopic surgery and other general and digestive surgeries.
To request an appointment with Dr. Gallego, call Mediclinic Welcare Hospital on 04 282 7788.
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