Management of Gastroesophageal reflux in 2026: When to investigate and refer? Is the fundoplication still the gold standard?

Learning outcomes

• Describe the current definition of GORD and typical and atypical symptoms.
• Outline how to escalate treatment in non-responders and when to refer for investigations.
• Describe how surgery can treat GORD, side effects of surgery and when other types of surgical and endoscopic options are appropriate.

Speaker biography

Mr Matt Stokes is a specialist Oesophago-gastric, Bariatric and General Surgeon committed to delivering personalised, compassionate and expert care. His clinical interests include oesophageal and gastric cancer, bariatric surgery, hiatal hernias and gastro-oesophageal reflux, and abdominal wall and groin hernia surgery.

Mr Stokes completed general surgical training through Alfred Health, obtaining FRACS in 2021, followed by three years of subspecialty training through the highly competitive AANZGOSA post-fellowship program. He undertook further training at Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, gaining extensive experience in minimally invasive surgery for gastro-oesophageal reflux, hiatal hernia, and oesophageal and gastric cancer. Mr Stokes then completed a high-volume oesophago-gastric cancer fellowship at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Scotland, refining skills in complex cancer surgery.

Mr Stokes hold public appointments at The Alfred and Peninsula Health. Privately, he consult in Malvern, Frankston and Gippsland as part of South East Upper GI Surgical Group and operate at Cabrini Malvern.