ESOPHAGEAL SERVICES

Many challenging medical conditions affect the upper regions of the gastrointestinal tract.  These can include problems with the esophagus (swallowing) and stomach (digestion). In cases of severe obesity, the stomach can be temporarily or permanently modified to restrict food intake and promote weight loss.  At UC Irvine Medical Center, a full range of therapeutic procedures are available for patients needing esophageal or gastric interventions.

Select a surgeon »

Esophageal disorders

Connecting the mouth to the stomach, the esophagus is a tube-like structure that can be the site of many troubling problems.  These include spasms, swallowing difficulties, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and cancer.

GERD, a disease that can cause severe heartburn, develops when the sphincter valve in the lower esophagus becomes weak and can no longer prevent the stomach’s digestive juices from backing up. In severe cases (about 10 percent) a pre-cancerous condition called Barrett’s esophagus can arise due to the constant reflux of stomach acid. This disorder involves the development of cells in the esophagus that are similar to cells found in the intestine. Because these changes greatly increase a person’s risk of developing esophageal cancer, early detection of Barrett’s esophagus is critical.

At UC Irvine Medical Center’s Chao Comprehensive Digestive Disease Center, specialists use an endoscope--a flexible tube equipped with a camera--to examine the esophagus. Samples of suspicious tissue may be removed and studied under a microscope to diagnose Barrett’s esophagus and identify any precancerous tissue changes, a condition known as dysplasia.

Patients without dysplasia may be treated with intensive antacid therapy or fundoplication, a surgical procedure called that prevents stomach acid from flowing backwards.  Fundoplication is performed using minimally invasive laparoscopy, which requires only few small incisions to accommodate slender, flexible surgical instruments, a video camera and light source.

Several nonsurgical treatments are also used to treat precancerous cells in the esophagus:

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA).  This procedure is performed with a specially equipped endoscope.  After being inserted into the esophagus, the device emits heat energy that destroys the abnormal cells.

View a recent video of the procedure. »

Photodynamic therapy (PDT).  This innovative treatment begins by giving the patients a light-sensitive drug that targets precancerous cells. Two days later, an endoscopic procedure is performed in which laser light is directed at the esophagus wall. When the light hits the abnormal cells, the drug is activated, destroying them.

For Barrett’s patients with advanced dysplasia, surgically removing the esophagus may be the only answer. In most cases, the procedure can be peformed laparoscopically, a feat that was impossible only a short time ago. Surgeons at UC Irvine Medical Center are experts in this minimally invasive technique, which removes only the diseased tissue.

Gastric diseases

Stomach disorders requiring surgical intervention include severe peptic ulcers and stomach cancer.  Both conditions can be treated with laparoscopic procedures. Patients with stomach cancer are treated at the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, the only National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center in Orange County.  Laparoscopic surgery of the stomach is shown to have equal or better results in comparison with traditional surgery, called open gastrectomy.

Bariatric surgery

Traditional diets have poor success rates among people who are significantly overweight (100 pounds or more, or twice their ideal body weight). For patients struggling with severe obesity, minimally invasive bariatric (weight loss) surgery can be an effective option. The UC Irvine Medical Center’s Bariatric Surgery Program is known for having a high success rate with a low complication rate.  Our patients not only lose weight, they may spend less time in the hospital and return to normal life sooner. 

Our board-certified gastrointestinal surgeons specialize in laparoscopic surgery, and are experienced in the latest procedures, including:

• Roux-en-Y gastric bypass
• Reversible LAP-BAND® technique

The UC Irvine Bariatric Surgery Program goes beyond surgery. Each patient is cared for by a team that includes psychologists, dietitians, nurse coordinators, patient coordinators and anesthesiologists.  Their goal is to ensure that bariatric surgery patients have the greatest chance of weight loss success.