Is heartburn the same thing as acid reflux?

No. Acid reflux is the condition. Heartburn is one symptom it can cause, and reflux can also cause cough, hoarseness, or chest discomfort without heartburn.

Does robotic mean a robot performs the operation?

No. The surgeon controls every instrument movement from a console. The platform translates hand motion into instrument motion.

Patient resources

Glossary of surgical and digestive terms

Medical language is precise, which is useful in an operating room and unhelpful in a waiting room. These are the terms that come up most often, in plain words.

Terms used in metabolic care

Metabolic disease is physiology, not willpower. The vocabulary below describes mechanisms, not effort.

Metabolic surgery: an operation that changes how the digestive system signals hunger, fullness, and blood sugar handling.
Sleeve gastrectomy: an operation that removes a portion of the stomach, leaving a narrower tube.
Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty: an incisionless procedure that reshapes the stomach from the inside using sutures placed through a scope. No tissue is removed.
Comorbidity: another medical condition that exists alongside the main one and often improves or worsens with it.

Terms used in reflux and foregut care

Acid reflux is the condition. Heartburn is one symptom of it, and plenty of reflux happens without it.

GERD: gastroesophageal reflux disease, reflux that causes symptoms or damage.
Hiatal hernia: part of the stomach sitting above the diaphragm, through the opening the esophagus passes through.
Barrett esophagus: a change in the lining of the lower esophagus that can follow long standing reflux, monitored with endoscopy.
Manometry: a test that measures the strength and coordination of esophageal muscle contractions.
pH monitoring: a test that measures how much acid reaches the esophagus over a period of time.

Terms used in endoscopy and surgery

These describe how an operation is performed, not what is being treated.

Endoscopy: examination of the digestive tract with a flexible camera passed through the mouth.
Laparoscopic: performed through several small incisions using a camera and long instruments.
Robotic: laparoscopic surgery performed with instruments the surgeon controls from a console, with wristed motion and magnified vision.
Open: performed through a single larger incision.
Anastomosis: a surgical connection between two hollow structures.
Insufflation: gas used to create working space inside the abdomen during laparoscopic surgery.

Terms used around the operation

Process words that show up in scheduling and consent conversations.

Preoperative: before the operation, including testing and clearance.
NPO: nothing by mouth, the fasting period before anesthesia.
Postoperative: after the operation, including recovery and follow up.
Informed consent: the conversation, documented in writing, covering what is planned, the alternatives, and the risks.

Common questions

Is heartburn the same thing as acid reflux?: No. Acid reflux is the condition. Heartburn is one symptom it can cause, and reflux can also cause cough, hoarseness, or chest discomfort without heartburn.
Does robotic mean a robot performs the operation?: No. The surgeon controls every instrument movement from a console. The platform translates hand motion into instrument motion.

Next step

If something in a report is unclear, bring it to the consultation.

Ask about a term

Last reviewed August 24, 2026