Esophageal surgery can permanently resolve problems like chronic acid reflux, narrowed esophagus, or other serious damage. At Lenox Hill Surgeons, LLP in the Lenox Hill area of Manhattan in New York City, the board-certified esophageal surgery specialists offer effective, minimally invasive procedures with fast recoveries. Book your appointment online or call the office to schedule your surgery consultation now.

What is esophageal surgery?

Esophageal surgery is a procedure to treat problems affecting the food pipe (esophagus). While some esophageal issues respond to conservative treatments like medication or diet changes, others are stubborn or potentially dangerous and require surgical intervention. 

The team at Lenox Hill Surgeons, LLP uses the most up-to-date techniques in esophageal surgery, emphasizing minimally invasive strategies with small incisions. 

What conditions does esophageal surgery treat?

Esophageal surgery treats various esophageal issues, including: 

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

GERD happens when the muscle at the bottom of your esophagus doesn’t seal properly after you swallow. This leads to acid reflux, causing frequent throat pain, heartburn, and sometimes other issues like a chronic cough. 

Barrett’s esophagus

Barrett’s esophagus can develop because of long-term GERD. In Barrett’s esophagus, the lining of your esophagus changes to an unhealthy texture and color. It could turn into esophageal cancer without treatment. 

Esophageal cancer

The most common type of esophageal cancer, adenocarcinoma, usually starts in the bottom part of the esophagus, while squamous cell carcinoma usually affects the upper and middle parts of the esophagus. 

Rarer forms of esophageal cancer include lymphoma, melanoma, and small cell carcinoma.

Hiatal hernia

A hiatal hernia develops when a small part of your stomach bulges into the muscle between your chest and abdomen (your diaphragm). This can lead to GERD.

Nutcracker esophagus

Nutcracker esophagus is a condition in which powerful contractions of the esophagus cause chest pain and difficulty swallowing. 

Achalasia

Achalasia occurs when nerve damage in the esophagus prevents normal esophageal function. It prevents food from moving into the stomach normally. 

Esophageal surgery can also treat other diseases and disorders that disrupt the health and function of your esophagus. 

How does esophageal surgery work?

At Lenox Hills Surgeons, LLP, the team of esteemed surgeons treats you like a member of their own family. They want your surgery to produce the results you want and need, so the process starts with education about the different treatment options. 

The surgeons frequently use minimally invasive techniques to treat serious esophageal conditions, including robotic surgery and laparoscopic surgery. 

Using the state-of-the-art robot-assisted da Vinci® system, the surgeons create tiny incisions. They control ultraprecise robotic arms as they thread small surgical tools and a miniature camera through the incisions to perform your procedure. 

The specifics of the procedure vary with the condition, but surgeons can remove tissue, rebuild damaged parts of your esophagus, or perform other repairs to restore your esophagus. 

Robotic surgery causes less bleeding and pain; in many cases, you can have same-day procedures for esophageal issues. 

Call Lenox Hill Surgeons, LLP, or click on the online appointment maker for help today.