A West Point, Neb., woman hopes to put an end to her struggle with acid reflux disease with a surgery that will be broadcast live on the Internet Thursday from The Nebraska Medical Center.
Cheryle Norquist, 59, has suffered from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) for more than 20 years even though the problem wasn’t diagnosed until 1990. Her reflux symptoms have steadily grown worse despite medications designed to help.
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GERD occurs when a muscle at the lower end of the esophagus, called the lower esophageal sphincter, does not work properly and allows stomach contents to back up into the esophagus. More than 7 million Americans suffer from GERD. The number of GERD cases in the United States is growing. GERD afflicts people of every socioeconomic class, ethnic group and age. However, incidences of the disease increase dramatically in people over age 40. More than 50 percent of people who suffer from GERD are between the ages of 45 and 64. Symptoms include: frequent heartburn, regurgitation of gastric acid or partially digested food into mouth, difficult or painful swallowing, and chest pain. Left untreated, GERD can develop into Barretts’ esophagus, a condition that is often a precursor to esophageal cancer. |
“It felt like I was swallowing rocks,” Norquist said. “I’d have a sore throat for days and my voice got so hoarse that I could barely talk.”
Surgery became an option when Norquist developed severe asthma as a result of the reflux disease. Doctors believe Norquist is aspirating stomach acid into her lungs when she breathes, leaving her short of breath and suffering from chronic lung infections.
To fix the problem, Norquist will undergo a laparoscopic surgery called a Nissen fundoplication, which will tighten the valve between the esophagus and the stomach so acid cannot back up into the throat.
“Ninety-five per cent of the patients who have this surgery will not experience acid reflux again,” said Dmitry Oleynikov, M.D., assistant professor of surgery at UNMC, who will perform the surgery and answer questions online. Dr. Oleynikov also serves as co-chair of the Joseph and Richard Still Faculty Fellow in Medicine at UNMC and director of UNMC’s Education and Training Center for Minimally Invasive and Computer Assisted Surgery.
The laparoscopic “Nissen” as it’s called, is much easier on patients than the traditional operation. Dr. Oleynikov performs the surgery using only four small incisions. It requires a 23-hour hospital stay and only a week out of the office. When not performed laparoscopically, patients stay in the hospital for 3 to 5 days and take six weeks off of work.
The surgery will be broadcast live on the Internet starting at 5 p.m. CDT. Surgeon Corrigan Cori McBride, M.D., co-director of education and training with the minimally invasive and computer assisted surgery center at UNMC, will be moderating the surgery and also will answer questions online.
“The live surgical Web cast is a first for us and for Nebraska,” said Tadd Pullin, vice president of Marketing and Strategic Planning at The Nebraska Medical Center. “It is a good opportunity to show people the kinds of procedures that we can do to help improve their quality of life.”
More than 7 million Americans suffer from acid reflux disease and countless others have symptoms that have not been diagnosed. Left untreated, acid reflux, or GERD, can lead to esophageal cancer, said Dr. Oleynikov, who recently co-authored a professional paper on the subject. The precursor for cancer is called Barrett’s esophagus and the best way to reverse that condition is through surgery, he said.
“People tend to suffer from reflux disease and they don’t have to,” said Dr. Oleynikov, who performs more than 50 laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication surgeries each year.
Candidates for the surgery include people who have reflux more than four to five times a week that is not eased by medication, or have documented problems with their esophageal sphincter.
There are all kinds of over-the-counter and prescription medications that are used to treat GERD and often antacids are the first course of treatment. For some people, medications stop doing the trick leaving them with frequent and often painful acid reflux. That’s when surgery becomes a viable option.
Symptoms of GERD include: heartburn, regurgitation of gastric acid or sour contents into the mouth; difficult and/or painful swallowing and chest pain. Most people assume that food triggers GERD but that’s not usually the case. In fact, stress appears to be a bigger trigger than spicy food.
“While just about everyone will have heartburn at some time or another, GERD is much worse. It is a nagging, persistent burning in the chest that can be mistaken for a heart attack. When you experience GERD more than five times a week and over-the-counter medications are no longer bringing you relief, it is time to see a doctor,” Dr. Oleynikov said.
Meanwhile, Norquist is looking forward to ending her fight with acid reflux. “When most people hear that they need surgery, they panic,” Norquist said. “Not me. I can’t wait to get it done so that I can start feeling better again.”