Private reflux and hiatus hernia assessment in Guildford
Reflux, regurgitation and hiatus hernia symptoms
Mr Rob Walker sees private patients at Nuffield Health Guildford Hospital for assessment of persistent reflux symptoms, regurgitation, hiatus hernia and selected swallowing symptoms.
Reflux symptoms may include heartburn, acid regurgitation, chest discomfort, cough, throat symptoms or difficulty tolerating certain foods. Surgery is not right for everyone, and careful assessment is important before considering an operation.
When to seek assessment
You may benefit from specialist assessment if you have:
persistent reflux despite lifestyle changes or medication;
troublesome regurgitation;
known hiatus hernia;
symptoms returning when medication is stopped;
concern about long-term medication;
Barrett’s oesophagus requiring surgical input;
uncertainty about whether symptoms are truly reflux-related.
Seek urgent medical advice if you have progressive difficulty swallowing, vomiting blood, black stools, unexplained weight loss, persistent vomiting or severe chest pain.
What happens at the first appointment?
Mr Walker will review your symptoms, previous medication, endoscopy findings and any previous scans or tests. Further investigation may include gastroscopy, pH testing, manometry or imaging depending on your symptoms and previous results.
The aim is to establish the diagnosis clearly before discussing treatment.
Treatment options
Treatment may include lifestyle changes, medication, further investigation or surgery. If surgery is appropriate, options may include keyhole or robotic hiatus hernia repair and fundoplication. Mr Walker will discuss the likely benefits, limitations, risks and recovery before any treatment decision is made.