Esophageal Health

Preps and Education Materials

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We work as a team to provide outstanding esophageal care. Call 833-373-7674(Link opens phone app) to connect with a specialist at the UCLA Robert G. Kardashian Center for Esophageal Health.

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If you’re planning to have a procedure, you’ll want to spend some time preparing. Listed below are pre-and post instructions for various esophageal procedures provided at our center. If you have further questions about your procedure or preparation instructions, please speak with your healthcare provider.

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Esophageal motility prep instructions

Our esophageal motility tests include:

  • High-resolution impedance esophageal manometry
  • pH testing (both wire-based and wireless)
  • Fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES)
  • Imaging studies such as the modified barium swallow study and barium esophagram

Prep instructions are available in English and en Español for most tests(Link opens in new window)

Nutrition - Per-oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) procedure

To allow for maximum healing after your POEM procedure, the following diet is suggested for the two weeks after your procedure when you are home from the hospital. We also provide a list of tips and recipes to help you maintain this two-week, post-procedure diet. The inpatient dietitian will also review this with you prior to your discharge from the hospital.

Nutrition and activity instructions - Post-transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF) procedure

After your TIF procedure, please follow this diet for 6 weeks to allow for maximum healing. This diet will help you get the calories, protein, vitamins and minerals you need to maintain your overall health while you are unable to eat solid foods. Activity instructions are also included.

After your LINX® procedure

LINX is a surgery used to treat acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This handout will discuss 1) what to expect after surgery, 2) how to eat after surgery, 3) swallowing and medications and 4) common symptoms after procedure.

Nutrition - Surgical fundoplication diet

Fundoplication is a surgical procedure used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). After your fundoplication, please follow this diet for maximum healing. This diet will help you get the calories, protein, vitamins and minerals you need to maintain overall health while you are unable to eat solid foods.

Wellness Guide for Esophageal Cancer - Before and after surgery: What you need to now

GI Wellness Guide Esophageal Cancer Cover
(Link downloads document) (Link opens in new window)

This guide will help prepare you for surgery but also prepares you for what to expect following surgery.

Includes:

  • Weight gain and maintenance
  • Chemoradiation including supplements and managing side effects
  • J-tube feeding
  • Discharge checklist
  • Changing from tube feeding to oral diet
  • Emotional support services
  • Diet and nutrition
  • Recipes
  • And more

Make sure to take this guide with you to every appointment including the day of surgery.

Preparing for esophageal surgery