26/04/2026
This video demonstrates a laparoscopic hiatus hernia repair for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. This operation helps to treat symptoms like heartburn and regurgitation as a potential alternative to proton pump inhibitors. A Nissen technique is demonstrated, with a Toupet procedure briefly being mentioned. This is one of the more commonly performed gastrointestinal procedures being performed by laparoscopic surgeons. A video on revisional hiatus hernia surgery will be published in the future. This is regarded as an advanced laparoscopic operation. A gastroscopy is one of the essential investigations in diagnosing GORD.
A bit more about the Surgeon Dr Gert Du Toit:
As a surgeon, I have been trained in the digestive, endocrine, hernia, breast, and vascular surgery. I was privileged to have been trained at around the start of laparoscopic/keyhole surgery in South Africa. Laparoscopic surgery brought about a revolution in minimally invasive surgery. As a technology, it has evolved in being able to perform complex abdominal procedures, as for instance in weight loss surgery.
We can perform a complex gastric bypass procedure in around an hour of operating time. Most patients recover in the ward and are discharged after 2 days, enabling early ambulatory care at home.
This skill set has also been applied in other complex procedures, such as revisional surgeries, for instance in failed anti-reflux surgery, stomach and oesophageal cancers, also in colorectal surgery.
As Hybrid surgeons, certain surgeries are still better being performed in the conventional open manner, for instance as with pancreatic cancer in a Whipple's procedure.
As in all complex high-risk delicate procedures, I have learned through the years that a team approach enables optimal care and better outcomes. This objective has been achieved by being in a partnership and working at 2 sophisticated hospitals with a super-specialized multidisciplinary team of doctors.
Through the years I have attended a number of international workshops and conferences, enhancing my perspective and skill set. This has also been the case in hernia surgery. Abdominal hernias consist of groin hernias, incisional, umbilical, and hiatus hernias. The vast majority of these are best performed laparoscopically.
Endocrine surgery consists mainly of the thyroid, parathyroid, and adrenal surgery. Surgery on the soft tissue of the neck where the thyroid and parathyroid are located is still best performed as an open procedure, where delicate attention can be paid to vital structures around these organs. Adrenalectomies are best done laparoscopically, because of the complex nature in obtaining exposure.
I have done a thesis during my training in early breast cancer and continued to build a large breast practice in close association with oncologists in Durban.
In complex gastrointestinal work, it is important to make an accurate problem-based diagnosis. Gastroscopies and colonoscopies form the backbone of this approach. I have done more than 10 000 of these procedures. An increasing number of digestive diseases are also being treated endoscopically, with either the gastroscope or colonoscope.
With this skill set and being passionate about quality outcomes, I am looking forward to helping you with your surgical problem. Please refer to the video on the clinical conditions that I am treating.
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