Frequent or chronic heartburn is a common problem among American adults. About 15 to 30 percent of men and women between the ages of 25 to 50 suffer from chronic heartburn. Heartburn is caused by a condition known as gastroesophageal reflux, which is the backup of stomach acids into the esophagus. Gastroesophageal reflux may occur frequently when the valve-like mechanism between the esophagus and stomach does not fulfill its function of keeping the stomach acids in place.
Surgery
Surgeons perform the minimally-invasive procedure to treat the condition through five tiny incisions, each about a quarter-inch long. A surgical instrument called a laparoscope is inserted through the incisions. A video camera at the end of the laparoscope allows the surgeon to see a magnified view of the patient's internal organs on a video monitor.
Recovery
Since the incisions are so small, patients typically go home a day or two after surgery, experience minimal pain, and can resume normal activities after a week.
