Why do i need to have a barium swallow test before i get a nissen fundoplication?

Check stomach: Some people with advanced gerd have such significant scarring that the stomach cannot return to the abdominal cavity. This is important to know before surgery so that your surgeon can consider doing the surgery through the chest or performing a procedure to lengthen the esophagus at the time of the fundoplication.

Cancer or motion: To ruleout esophageal cancer or motility disorders of the esophagus, such as achalasia ... May also need manometry studies ...

Position of Stomach: Gerd is often associated with a hiatal hernia, thru which the stomach "yo-yo's" up into the chest. Some patients with advanced disease have their entire stomach stuck within the chest with a shortened esophagus. We need to know this pre-op in order to plan a different surgical approach.

Function & anatomy: I use this test to confirm the anatomy of the stomach and esophagus, as well as to assess the ability of the esophagus to push solids and liquids into the stomach (solids are usually barium coated marshmallows).