The laparoscope is then able to transmit images from the inside of the body to video monitors in the operating room, allowing the surgeon and staff to see the operative area on the screens. Next, the surgeon manipulates the instruments to wrap a portion of the stomach, known as the gastric fundus, around the lower esophageal sphincter, which reinforces the valve and prevents the flow of acid back into the esophagus. Until the advent of the videoscopic procedure, traditional surgery for GERD required surgeons to make a long incision in the abdomen or chest to gain access to the area in need of repair. Because the videoscopic surgery is less invasive, scarring is reduced and many patients can leave the hospital in two to five days, instead of the nine days required for traditional surgery. In addition, recovery time can be as little as seven to 14 days, compared with four to six weeks for traditional surgery.
Patients are also able to return to normal activities in a much shorter period of time.
Most major health insurance plans cover the cost of videoscopic surgery, the overall cost of which is approximately the same as traditional surgical methods. In addition to the procedure for GERD, videoscopic procedures are available for gallbladder removal, hysterectomy, hernia repair, appendectomy, colon surgery and for urinary stress incontinence.