GERD is a prominent cause of patient distress and a contributor to esophageal cancer. Surgical intervention has evolved over the last few decades and has become a reliable first-line treatment option. Improvements in assessment tools have shed light on the etiology of the disease itself and allowed surgeons to better understand the contributions each step of surgical intervention has on the GERD barrier.  

Traditional fundoplications and magnetic sphincter augmentation (LINX) are both good options for the treatment of GERD. Every surgeon should determine the best option for each patient on an individual basis after in-depth conversation with the patient and a full discussion of side-effect profiles.

Innovations such as robot-assisted surgery platforms offer precision of surgical intervention. Caitlin C. Houghton, MD, is an expert in foregut surgery as well as minimally invasive and robot-assisted surgical techniques. In addition to her active surgical practice with Keck Medicine of USC, she trains surgical residents and fellows in these intricate procedures at the Keck School of Medicine of USC.