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Benign Esophageal Disease

Benign esophageal diseases include achalasia (swallowing difficulty), paraesophageal hernia, and Barrett’s esophagus. Benign esophageal stricture is a narrowing or tightening of the esophagus and can be commonly caused by GERD.  In addition to treating GERD, we also treat:

  • Giant Paraesophageal Hernia: A hernia that includes at least 30% of the stomach in the chest and is treated by robotically repairing the hernia.
  • Achalsia – Heller Myotomy/Dor: Achalasia is a disorder in which the lower esophageal sphincter fails to relax properly, making it difficult for food and liquids to reach the stomach. This is treated robotically by cutting the muscle fibers of the lower esophageal sphincter.
  • Barrett’s Esophagus: A pre-cancerous condition characterized by changes in the cells lining the esophagus which raises the risk of developing cancer of the esophagus. It is associated with long-term irritation from acid reflux, commonly in patients with a long history of heartburn.

We provide a team approach to outline the best course of action for each case. Because of our expertise in minimally invasive approaches, we can reduce the length of your recovery time.