Do Doctors Repair Hiatal Hernias?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Surgery can repair a hiatal hernia

by pulling your stomach back into the abdomen and making the opening in the diaphragm smaller. The procedure may also involve surgically reconstructing the esophageal sphincter or removing hernial sacs.

Is it worth fixing a hiatal hernia?


Patients who do not experience reflux but have other symptoms associated with their hiatal hernia should consider hernia repair

. Patients with Type II-IV Hiatal hernias should consider surgical repair, especially if they have symptoms.

Why do doctors not fix hiatal hernias?


A failed or poorly performed hiatal surgery procedure can cause continued disruptions to your quality of life

. Your symptoms may return. You risk experiencing recurrent heartburn, nerve damage, increased bowel symptoms, and difficulty swallowing. Repair of recurrent hernias is complicated, especially in older patients.

How do you know when a hiatal hernia needs surgery?

However, surgery may be recommended if:

symptoms are severe and interfere with quality of life

. symptoms do not respond to other treatments. the hernia is at risk of becoming strangulated, which is where the blood supply to the herniated tissue is cut off — a situation that can be fatal.

Who is not a candidate for hiatal hernia surgery?

Who Is NOT a Good Candidate for Hernia Repair? You may not be a good candidate if:

You have a high risk of surgical complications. You are elderly (hernia repair studies suggest elderly as older than 75 years of age) and your hernia is not causing pain or discomfort

.

What type of surgeon fixes hiatal hernias?

In some cases,

abdominal surgeons and chest (thoracic) surgeons

are also involved. The Esophageal Clinic often participates in care for people with hiatal hernias. These specialists work together to provide exactly the care you need.

What is the newest surgery for hiatal hernia?

Surgeons have been repairing hiatal hernias for decades through the use of a fundoplication and an esophageal lengthening procedure known as

Collis gastroplasty

, a procedure that aims to eliminate or reduce severe symptoms such as heartburn, regurgitation and difficulty eating.

What happens if a hernia is left untreated?

“Hernias cannot heal on their own — if left untreated,

they usually get bigger and more painful, and can cause serious health risks in some cases

.” If the wall through which the intestine is protruding closes shut, it can cause a strangulated hernia, which cuts off blood flow to the bowel.

How long is hospital stay for hiatal hernia surgery?

Expect stay in the hospital

one to two days

after this procedure. On the morning after your procedure you will get a swallowing study to make sure everything is in the proper place. After that, you will start on a liquid diet.

What percentage of hiatal hernia needs surgery?

Though many patients had persistent symptoms at 10 years of follow-up, researchers discovered that only

1.5%

of patients ultimately underwent elective surgery for their hiatal hernia.

Does omeprazole help with hiatus hernia?

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs)

Reduce the amount of acid produced by your stomach. They are usually the first treatment for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD), which

can be a symptom of hiatus hernia and include omeprazole and lansoprazole

.

What is the fastest way to cure a hiatal hernia?

  1. losing weight (if needed)
  2. decreasing food portion sizes.
  3. eating several smaller meals throughout the day (as opposed to a few large meals)
  4. elevating the head of your bed by 8 inches.
  5. avoiding meals 2 to 3 hours before bedtime or before lying down.

Can a hiatal hernia be fixed during an endoscopy?

Late postoperative complications such as stricture, or herniated or slipped fundoplication are also primarily diagnosed using flexible endoscopy. Hence

flexible endoscopy performs an irreplaceable role in all three phases of the surgical treatment of hiatal hernias

.

How do you know if your hiatal hernia is getting worse?

Symptoms of a hiatal hernia


heartburn that gets worse when you lean over or lie down

. acid reflux or GERD. chest pain or epigastric pain. trouble swallowing.

Can a hiatal hernia be repaired without surgery?

Hiatal hernias that do not cause symptoms do not require immediate treatment. However, symptom-producing hiatal hernias may need to be treated.

They do not heal on their own and require surgical intervention

. The majority of paraesophageal hernias can be successfully repaired using laparoscopic techniques.

How much weight do you lose after hiatal hernia surgery?

Patients are counseled that they will likely lose

10–15 pounds

during the first 4–6 weeks after surgery before the nadir of weight loss (2).

Is hiatal hernia surgery considered major surgery?


A hiatal hernia repair is a serious surgery

. You will need some time to recover after the surgery. Your healthcare provider will suggest this surgery if you have a hiatal hernia and long-term (chronic) heartburn and other symptoms. He or she will try other things before doing surgery.

What aggravates a hiatal hernia?


Alcohol, mint, citrus fruit, tomatoes, and carbonated beverages

may irritate the lining of the esophagus in those with GERD. Like caffeinated drinks, they also relax the LES and cause reflux.

What is the difference between a hiatal hernia and a sliding hiatal hernia?

In a hiatal hernia, the stomach bulges up into the chest through that opening. There are two main types of hiatal hernias: sliding and paraesophageal (next to the esophagus).

In a sliding hiatal hernia, the stomach and the section of the esophagus that joins the stomach slide up into the chest through the hiatus

.

What is the best painkiller for hiatus hernia?

Best medications for hiatal hernia Drug name Drug class OTC or Rx
Maalox (aluminum hydroxide)

Antacid OTC
Tums (calcium carbonate) Antacid OTC Pepcid (famotidine) H2 antagonist OTC

Can hiatal hernia be cured permanently?


A laparoscopic surgery

is done through several small incisions instead of one big cut. This is considered a minimally invasive option. The specific laparoscopic procedure used to repair a hiatal hernia is called the Nissen fundoplication. This procedure creates a permanent solution to your hiatal hernia symptoms.

How did I get a hiatus hernia?

A hiatal hernia occurs

when weakened muscle tissue allows your stomach to bulge up through your diaphragm

. It’s not always clear why this happens. But a hiatal hernia might be caused by: Age-related changes in your diaphragm.

When is a hiatal hernia an emergency?

Get medical care immediately. You are being treated for heartburn or hiatal hernia, and you feel sudden chest or stomach pain, have difficulty swallowing, are vomiting, or are unable to have a bowel movement or pass gas;

you may have a hernia that has become obstructed or strangulated

, which are emergencies.

How long can you wait to have hernia surgery?

Many people are able to delay surgery for

months or even years

. And some people may never need surgery for a small hernia. If the hernia is small and you don’t have any symptoms, or if the symptoms don’t bother you much, you and your doctor may simply continue to watch for symptoms to occur.

David Martineau
Author
David Martineau
David is an interior designer and home improvement expert. With a degree in architecture, David has worked on various renovation projects and has written for several home and garden publications. David's expertise in decorating, renovation, and repair will help you create your dream home.