Treating Heartburn With Surgery For most people, heartburn is a
treatable symptom. Frequent heartburn may indicate acid reflux
or gastroesophageal reflux disease, also known as GERD. When
treatment doesn't work and heartburn is severe despite lifestyle
changes, surgery may be an option. It may also be an option if
GERD causes other medical problems. Minimally invasive
procedures using endoscopy are also available to treat acid
reflux. When to Consider Surgery for GERD The vast majority of
people with GERD can control heartburn symptoms adequately
without surgery. A few people, though, still have acid reflux
symptoms even after treating them with medications, lifestyle,
and diet changes. For these people, surgery helps. Heartburn
that doesn't go away despite maximum non-surgical treatment is
the most common reason to consider surgery for GERD. Other
situations where surgery may be an option include: - Severe
inflammation of the esophagus, called esophagitis. - A
narrowing, known as a stricture, of the esophagu