Surgery can cause new and troublesome symptoms. Over time, some people have trouble swallowing, have increased flatulence (gas), and/or have trouble belching.
Risks or complications following fundoplication surgery include:
- Difficulty swallowing
- Developing a hernia near the wound sites
- Tear of the stitches holding a stomach wrap
- Damage to internal organs
- Heartburn that comes back
- Bloating and discomfort from gas build-up because the person is not able to burp
- Risks of anaesthesia
- Risks of major surgery (infection or bleeding)
For some people, the side effects of surgery - bloating caused by gas build-up, swallowing problems, pain at the surgical site - are as bothersome as GORD symptoms. The fundoplication procedure cannot be reversed, and in some cases, it may not be possible to relieve the symptoms of these complications, even with a second surgery.