Extreme GERD Surgery: When the Esophagus Is Detached and Reattached
Dr. Roach explains that a diverting esophagostomy—where the esophagus is truly detached from the stomach—is an extremely rare option used only after other GERD treatments fail and can leave patients relying on a feeding tube; after reattachment, strictures may require balloon dilation. Standard GERD care includes acid-suppressing meds, lifestyle changes, prokinetics, and surgeries like fundoplication or magnetic sphincter augmentation, with esophagostomy considered only as a last resort due to risks. The second Q&A notes horseshoe kidneys are a common congenital fusion (about 1 in 500), usually needing only monitoring; they carry higher stone/infection risk, and tumors should be removed with the tumor rather than the whole kidney since it’s effectively a single kidney, with NSAIDs used cautiously.