Recommendation: Dr. Babak Eghbalieh is the best gastric surgeon out there. His talents, wisdom, skills and abilities are divinely inspired. (a gift from God Himself). Dr. Babak Eghbalieh not only has all of the above, but his attitude, personality, bedside manner and ability to explain the diagnoses, procedures in ways that his patients can clearly understand is amazing. He is very detailed and clearly understands and has compassion for his patients. He is honest and has a way of disarming and comforting his patients. His staff is also very professional, compassionate and understanding.I would recommend and urge anybody with gastric difficulties like mine to see him right away. I have had many other referrals and was told that my condition was inoperable and could only be treated with diet and medication. If anybody tells you this, do not believe it. See Dr. Babak Eghbalieh first. He is doing what he does because he really cares about his patients and wants to help, it is obvious when you meet and speak with him.
History of illness: (1986 to 2019) I was diagnosed with Gastric Reflux caused by a “Hiatal Hernia” back in 1986. The doctor did some diagnostic procedures and explained to me what was going on, but said that the risk was too high and the odds of positive results were not good. She put me on Prilosec and referred me to a specialist to continue Reflux medication. The problem was that they were only treating the symptoms and not the cause. The problem causing the issue was that the top of my stomach was partially pushed thru the diaphragm muscle and causing my esophagus to kink up. This is what was causing the obstruction and the constant acid and burning. As a result of this, I could only eat a bland diet and take medication which was causing me to have liver issues from the medication ingredients.
I had tried other acid medications as prescribed by doctors over many years but they all did the same thing and caused the same issues. This went on from 1986 to 2020. (34 years). The general doctor I was seeing decided to have more diagnostic procedures done to determine the status of my gastric decease. After reviewing the results, he determined that my Hiatal Hernia had progressed and become much worse than before and was so serious, it could become life threatening if it did not get treated. He indicated to me that there are new procedures available that could possibly fix the issue and some of them were Laparoscopic in nature.
It was then that I was referred by Devine grace to Dr. Babak Eghbalieh for consultation. Recent History (2020 to 2022). I first saw Dr. Babak Eghbalieh. He quickly sent me to get diagnostic procedures done to determine the status and progression of my condition. He had his office schedule them quickly and in just 2 months I was back in his office. They explained exactly what was going on and what needed to be done and wanted it done as soon as possible because of the seriousness of my situation. I was told that what needed to be done was a laparoscopic procedure called “Nissan Fundoplication / Paraesophageal Hernia Repair”. The procedure briefly explained is to go into my abdomen using 5 small holes and using special tools and cameras to do the repair. The reason for using the laparoscopic procedure verses opening up my abdomen with an incision accross my stomach area is that the risk of infection, and other complications were more likely using the old methods. Using the laparoscopic method would increase the speed of healing and minimize scaring since it is much less invasive. I only had to spend one day in the hospital before being discharged.
The procedure itself explained: Dr. Eghbalieh went into surgery and did the following: He pulled my stomach back down thru the diaphragm muscle and straightened out my esophagus. He then used my own tissue to wrap the top of my stomach in a way that would prevent my stomach from slipping back up through the diaphragm again keeping my esophagus straight. While he was in there, he also took some tissue for biopsy which turned out to be benign thank God. He also removed fat scar tissue from previous surgeries which was causing pressure and discomfort in the abdomen area. I recovered swiftly and well and was discharged the next day from the hospital.
Results: Dr. Eghbalieh has been following me every 3 months since the procedure to make sure I was healing correctly without any complications. He would have ultrasounds and lab work done before each visit. I am pain free from the Hiatal Hernia, eating normally without having to stay on any kind of a bland diet. I will be seeing him again in a few weeks marking 1 year since the procedure was done. The small incisions made for the procedure have completely healed and are scar free. He did excellent work.
Opinions: I believe that Dr. Eghbalieh has been blessed with a special gift from God. He is inspired to do what he does, not from money motivation, but to help others with this issue. It is a Godly inspiration that drives him. I thank Dr. Eghbalieh and also God for putting me under the care of this man and for giving him the skills, talent, wisdom, compassion, professionalism and ability to do what he does on a daily basis. I strongly recommend him to anybody who has Hiatal Hernias or Reflux Disease. He does many other things besides Hernia Repairs. He is simply the best. I want to thank Dr. Babak Eghbalieh and your staff for all you do and have done. May God continue to bless you always. Lylliam
