It is the area of surgery that performs the preferential attention to the oesophagus and stomach pathology. It covers the benignant oesophagus diseases, such as gastro-oesophageal reflux, hiatus hernia or diaphragm pathology; and the motor disorders, such as oesophagus or diverticulosis achalasia, along with the oesophagus or stomach benignant and malignant tumours attention.

It uses minimally invasive approaches. Minimally invasive surgeries, such as surgery by laparoscopy, have the advantage of reducing the hospitalization period of time with a faster recovery.

Oesophageal achalasia
Achalasia is an oesophageal motility disorder of unknown aetiology, which is characterised by the lack of peristalsis, associated with a normal or increased resting pressure in the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), which does not fully relax in response to the deglutition that causes a difficulty in the food deglutition.

Heller myotomy achieves a permanent dysphagia relief in a high percentage of patients. Given the lack of oesophageal peristalsis and the surgical dissection of the lower oesophagus, it is commonly added a partial fundoplication (Dor or Toupet) to prevent reflux.

Gastrooesophageal reflux and hiatus hernia
The presence of acid reflux from the stomach into the oesophagus is called gastrooesophageal reflux, and is manifested by belching, food regurgitation, acidity, swallow difficulties, nausea and vomiting, blood sometimes, throat irritation, hoarseness, voice changes and cough.

A hiatus hernia is the protrusion of a stomach portion to the thorax through a hole located in the diaphragm (the muscular layer, used in breathing, that separates the chest from the abdomen).

When the pharmacological therapy does not control the reflux or medical treatment is required a surgical procedure may bee necessary. If bleeding symptoms or chest pain shows up, the hiatus hernia must be operated.

Gastrooesophageal reflux and hiatus hernia laparoscopic surgery guarantees solving these problems by constructing surgically an anatomic valve with minimal pain, with an earlier recovery and better aesthetic results.