THE ERSTA PROCEDURE, A HEMIFUNDOPLICATION FOR THE TREATMENT OF GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE

Symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux and gastro-oesophageal reflux di sease (GERD) are common in the population and are a frequent reason fo r consulting physicians and surgeons. If complications of reflux occur or if the problem cannot be managed without medication such as H-2 bl ockers or proton pump inhibitors, surgery should be considered. In the majority of cases GERD is caused by a surgically correctable anatomic al defect affecting the angle of His and the flap valve mechanism. Pat ients should be carefully evaluated prior to surgery, and for maintain ing good long-term results the antireflux procedure should be performe d by surgeons with special interest in the field. We present our exper ience with a hemifundoplication performed both by open technique and t hrough laparoscopy.