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Reflux symptoms could be affecting you more than you think. At Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN), our clinicians specialize in acid reflux options to treat your symptoms.
What is reflux?
Reflux occurs when contents from your stomach flow up into the esophagus. The most common sign of reflux is heartburn. Heartburn is described as a burning chest pain that begins behind the breastbone and moves upward to the neck and throat. It can last as long as several hours and is often worse after eating, lying down or bending over.
Treatment options for chronic heartburn and reflux
Lifestyle changes are important steps to take in managing chronic reflux. However, sometimes lifestyle changes are not adequate. Medications and proton pump inhibitors (PPI) may be required. LVHN clinicians who specialize in acid reflux can diagnose and treat your symptoms at the source – helping you to avoid potential long-term health complications.
Reflux treatment program
The reflux treatment program at LVHN includes a comprehensive multidisciplinary team dedicated to providing effective treatment for reflux with individualized treatment programs.
Care coordinator
The first step in the reflux treatment program is a phone call with one of our specialized care coordinators who will review your medical records to schedule with the clinician who best meets your needs.
Expert matching and expedited access
You will be scheduled with the clinician who best fits the needs of your unique condition and symptoms. Diagnostic testing will be scheduled if needed.
Customized treatment plan
Your clinician will review your options and their recommendations before proceeding with a treatment plan.
Diagnostic testing
Your clinician may choose from a number of ways to help diagnose reflux. They include:
Your clinician inserts a thin, flexible tube equipped with a light and camera (endoscope) down your throat to examine the insides of the esophagus and stomach. Test results can be normal when reflux is present, but an endoscopy may detect inflammation of the esophagus (esophagitis) or other complications. An endoscope also can be used to collect a sample of tissue (biopsy) to be tested for complications such as Barrett’s esophagus.
A monitor is placed in your esophagus to identify when, and for how long, stomach acid regurgitates there. The monitor connects to a small computer that you wear around your waist or with a strap over your shoulder. The monitor might be a thin flexible tube (catheter) that’s threaded through your nose into your esophagus, or a clip that’s placed in your esophagus during an endoscopy.
This test measures the rhythmic muscle contractions in your esophagus when you swallow. Esophageal manometry also measures the coordination of force exerted by the muscles of your esophagus.
X-rays are taken after you drink a liquid that coats and fills the inside lining of your digestive tract. The coating allows your clinician to see a silhouette of your esophagus, stomach and intestine. You may also be asked to swallow a barium pill that can help diagnose a narrowing of the esophagus that may interfere with swallowing.
Minimally invasive surgical options to cure the problem
Surgery isn’t always the first option when treating reflux, but minimally invasive surgical treatments may be the solution if lifestyle changes and medication are not enough. These surgical treatments focus on the source of your discomfort – a relaxed or poorly functioning lower esophageal sphincter (LES). LVHN offers effective treatment options that will stop stomach acid from moving past the LES. Learn more about acid reflux surgery.
