Dr Nico Coetzee
Dr Nico Coetzee
Dr Coetzee specializes in Laparoscopic and Open surgery including certain areas of Surgical Oncology
Dr Coetzee specializes in Laparoscopic and Open surgery including certain areas of Surgical Oncology
Dr Coetzee joined the Medi Clinic group at Somerset West in 2009..Previously active and involved in the evolution of Laparoscopic Surgery as a participant and as an educator at Tygerberg Hospital in the Western Cape.
Dr Nico Coetzee
Dr Coetzee specializes in Laparoscopic and Open surgery including certain areas of Surgical Oncology
Dr Nico Coetzee
Dr Coetzee joined the Medi Clinic group at Somerset West in 2009..Previously active and involved in the evolution of Laparoscopic Surgery as a participant and as an educator at Tygerberg Hospital in the Western Cape.
Dr Coetzee joined the Medi Clinic group at Somerset West in 2009..Previously active and involved in the evolution of Laparoscopic Surgery as a participant and as an educator at Tygerberg Hospital in the Western Cape.
Dr Nico Coetzee
Dr Nico Coetzee
Dr Nico Coetzee
Dr Coetzee specializes in Laparoscopic and Open surgery including certain areas of Surgical Oncology
Dr Coetzee specializes in Laparoscopic and Open surgery including certain areas of Surgical Oncology
Dr Coetzee joined the Medi Clinic group at Somerset West in 2009..Previously active and involved in the evolution of Laparoscopic Surgery as a participant and as an educator at Tygerberg Hospital in the Western Cape.
Dr Nico Coetzee
Dr Coetzee specializes in Laparoscopic and Open surgery including certain areas of Surgical Oncology
Dr Nico Coetzee
Dr Coetzee joined the Medi Clinic group at Somerset West in 2009..Previously active and involved in the evolution of Laparoscopic Surgery as a participant and as an educator at Tygerberg Hospital in the Western Cape.
Dr Coetzee joined the Medi Clinic group at Somerset West in 2009..Previously active and involved in the evolution of Laparoscopic Surgery as a participant and as an educator at Tygerberg Hospital in the Western Cape.
Dr Nico Coetzee
Dr Nico Coetzee
Dr Nico Coetzee
Dr Coetzee specializes in Laparoscopic and Open surgery including certain areas of Surgical Oncology
Dr Coetzee specializes in Laparoscopic and Open surgery including certain areas of Surgical Oncology
Dr Coetzee joined the Medi Clinic group at Somerset West in 2009..Previously active and involved in the evolution of Laparoscopic Surgery as a participant and as an educator at Tygerberg Hospital in the Western Cape.
Dr Nico Coetzee
Dr Coetzee specializes in Laparoscopic and Open surgery including certain areas of Surgical Oncology
Dr Nico Coetzee
Dr Coetzee joined the Medi Clinic group at Somerset West in 2009..Previously active and involved in the evolution of Laparoscopic Surgery as a participant and as an educator at Tygerberg Hospital in the Western Cape.
Dr Coetzee joined the Medi Clinic group at Somerset West in 2009..Previously active and involved in the evolution of Laparoscopic Surgery as a participant and as an educator at Tygerberg Hospital in the Western Cape.
Dr Nico Coetzee
Surgery for “HEARTBURN”
If you suffer from “heartburn” your surgeon, Doctor NICO Coetzee, may have recommended laparoscopic anti-
What gastro-
Medical and surgical treatment options for GERD
How this surgery is performed
Expected outcomes
What to expect if you choose to have laparoscopic anti-
What is gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)?
Although “heartburn” is often used to describe a variety of digestive problems, in medical terms, it is actually a symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease. In this condition, stomach acids reflux or “back up” from the stomach into the esophagus. Heartburn is described as a harsh, burning sensation in the area in between your ribs or just below your neck. The feeling may radiate through the chest and into the throat and neck. Many adults in the united states experience this uncomfortable, burning sensation at least once a month. Other symptoms may also include vomiting, difficulty swallowing and chronic coughing or wheezing.
What causes GERD?
When you eat, food travels from your mouth to your stomach through a tube called the esophagus. At the lower end of the esophagus is a small ring of muscle called the lower esophageal sphincter (les). The les acts like a one-
What contributes to GERD?
Some people are born with a naturally weak sphincter (les). For others, however, fatty and spicy foods, certain types of medication, tight clothing, smoking, drinking alcohol, vigorous exercise or changes in body position (bending over or lying down) may cause the les to relax, causing reflux. A hiatal hernia (a common term for GERD) may be present in many patients who suffer from GERD, but may not cause symptoms of heartburn.
How is GERD treated?
GERD is generally treated in three progressive steps:
1. Life style changes
In many cases, changing diet and taking over-
2. Drug therapy
If symptoms persist after these life style changes, drug therapy may be required. Antacids neutralize stomach acids and over-
3. Surgery
Patients who do not respond well to lifestyle changes or medications or those who continually require medications to control their symptoms, will have to live with their condition or may undergo a surgical procedure. Surgery is very effective in treating GERD.
There are procedures being tried, known as intraluminal endoscopic procedures, which are alternatives to laparoscopic and open surgery. You will need to discuss with your surgeon and physician whether you are a candidate for any of these procedures.
What are the advantages of the laparoscopic method?
The advantage of the laparoscopic approach is that it usually provides:
Reduced postoperative pain
Shorter hospital stay
A faster return to work
Improved cosmetic result
Are you a candiate for the laparoscopic method?
Although laparoscopic anti-
What to expect before laparoscopic anti-
After Doctor Coetzee reviews with you the potential risks and benefits of the operation, you will need to provide written consent for surgery.
Preoperative preparation includes blood work, medical evaluation, chest x-
Your surgeon may request that you completely empty your colon and cleanse your intestines prior to surgery. You may be requested to drink clear liquids, only, for one or several days prior to surgery.
It is recommended that you shower the night before or morning of the operation.
After midnight the night before the operation, you should not eat or drink anything except medications that your surgeon has told you are permissible to take with a sip of water the morning of surgery.
Drugs such as aspirin, blood thinners, anti-
Diet medication or st. John’s wort should not be used for the two weeks prior to surgery.
Quit smoking and arrange for any help you may need at home.
What to expect the day of surgery:
You usually arrive at the hospital the morning of the operation.
A qualified medical staff member will place a small needle/catheter in your vein to dispense medication during surgery.
Often pre-
You will be under general anesthesia – asleep – during the operation which may last several hours.
Following the operation you will be sent to the recovery room until you are fully awake.
Most patients stay in the hospital the night of surgery and may require additional days in the hospital.
How is laparoscopic anti-
Laparoscopic anti-
In a laparoscopic procedure, surgeons use small incisions (1/4 to 1/2 inch) to enter the abdomen through cannulas (narrow tube-
The entire operation is performed “inside” after the abdomen is expanded by inflating gas into it.
What happens if the operation cannot be performed or completed by the laparoscopic method?
In a small number of patients the laparoscopic method is not feasible because of the inability to visualize or handle the organs effectively. Factors that may increase the possibility of converting to the “open” procedure may include obesity, a history of prior abdominal surgery causing dense scar tissue, or bleeding problems during the operation. The decision to perform the open procedure is a judgment decision made by Dr Botha either before or during the actual operation. When the surgeon feels that it is safest to convert the laparoscopic procedure to an open one, this is not a complication, but rather sound surgical judgment. The decision to convert to an open procedure is strictly based on patient safety.
What should I expect after surgery?
Patients are encouraged to engage in light activity while at home after surgery.
Post operative pain is generally mild although some patients may require prescription pain medication.
Anti-
Some surgeons modify patients diet after surgery beginning with liquids followed by gradual advance to solid foods. You should ask Doctor Botha about dietary restrictions immediately after the operation.
You will probably be able to get back to your normal activities within a short amount of time. These activities include showering, driving, walking up stairs, lifting, working and engaging in sexual intercourse.
Call and schedule a follow-
Are there side effects to this operation?
Studies have shown that the vast majority of patients who undergo the procedure are either symptom-
Long-
Some patients develop temporary difficulty swallowing immediately after the operation. This usually resolves within one to three months after surgery.
Occasionally, patients may require a procedure to stretch the esophagus (endoscopic dilation) or rarely re-
The ability to belch and or vomit may be limited following this procedure. Some patients report stomach bloating.
Rarely, some patients report no improvement in their symptoms.
What complications can occur?
Although the operation is considered safe, complications may occur as they may occur with any operation.
Complications may include but are not limited to:
Adverse reaction to general anesthesia
Bleeding
Injury to the esophagus, spleen, stomach or internal organs
Infection of the wound, abdomen, or blood.
Other less common complications may also occur.
Dr Coetzee may wish to discuss these with you. He will also help you decide if the risks of laparoscopic anti-
When to call your doctor?
Be sure to call your physician or surgeon if you develop any of the following:
Persistent fever over 101 degrees f (39 c)
Bleeding
Increasing abdominal swelling
Pain that is not relieved by your medications
Persistent nausea or vomiting
Chills
Persistent cough or shortness of breath
Purulent drainage (pus) from any incision
Redness surrounding any of your incisions that is worsening or getting bigger
You are unable to eat or drink liquids .