The picture makes it look like a little scarf has been wound around the top of a stomach, and I guess that's as good a way as any to explain it. The NHS leaflet we picked up on the ward sums it up a little more technically:
The operation involves using the top part of the stomach, known as the fundus. This is wrapped around the bottom part of the oesophagus to tighten the junction between the oesophagus and the stomach. As your child eats and drinks the pressure in this part of the stomach increases. This causes the junction between the stomach and and the oesophagus to close off, preventing your child from being sick.
Consultants consider this a pretty simple procedure which is usually done keyhole – although there is a chance that the position of LG's stomach will force them to make an open incision.
And why am I worried? Apart from the whole primeval terror of a mother signing a permission slip for someone to cut a hole in her son's body? OK, it's mainly that but also the knowledge that any surgery involves a risk and it's not always guaranteed to work. Could we be making things worse?
And when we asked one of our doctors how a fundoplication works he said: “Well, nobody's really sure...”
I was grateful for his honesty but forgive me if I don't find that completely reassuring!
So far my little guy's reflux has been unpredictable and completely off the scale. Why should I believe an operation like this could solve everything?
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