Is there a minimally invasive surgical treatment for chronic heartburn?
Yes, for patients whose atypical gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or chronic heartburn does not improve with medical treatment, a minimally invasive procedure called Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication (LNF) can effectively improve overall quality of life, says Dr. Joe Hines, director of the UCLA Center for Esophageal Disorders. This surgical technique requires small abdominal incisions through which the surgeon uses a laparoscopic or small camera to visualize the stomach and esophagus.
