Surgical management of gastroesophageal reflux disease in the obese patient

Background Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) affects two thirds of the American population. Obesity is also a disease that affects two thirds of the population. The pathophysiology of reflux disease is reasonably understood, however, the degree to which obesity affects this disease remains poorly defined. Therefore the approach to GERD in the obese patient requires special attention and its own algorithm.