Hiatal Hernia Overview
Learn About Hiatal Hernia
Hiatal hernia is a condition in which part of the stomach extends through an opening of the diaphragm into the chest. The diaphragm is the sheet of muscle that divides the chest from the abdomen.
Hernia - hiatal
The exact cause of hiatal hernia is not known. The condition may be due to weakness of the supporting tissue. Your risk for the problem goes up with age, obesity, and smoking. Hiatal hernias are very common. The problem occurs often in people over 50 years of age.
This condition may be linked to reflux (backflow) of gastric acid from the stomach into the esophagus.
Children with this condition are most often born with it (congenital). In infants, it often occurs with gastroesophageal reflux.
Symptoms may include:
- Chest pain
- Heartburn, worse when bending over or lying down
- Swallowing difficulty
A hiatal hernia by itself rarely causes symptoms. Pain and discomfort are due to the upward flow of stomach acid, air, or bile.
The goals of treatment are to relieve symptoms and prevent complications. Treatments may include:
- Medicines to control stomach acid
- Surgery to repair the hiatal hernia and prevent reflux
Other measures to reduce symptoms include:
- Avoiding large or heavy meals
- Not lying down or bending over right after a meal
- Reducing weight and not smoking
- Raising the head of the bed 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 centimeters)
If medicines and lifestyle measures do not help control symptoms, you may need surgery.
Grant Searles is a General Surgeon in Anchorage, Alaska. Dr. Searles and is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Hiatal Hernia. His top areas of expertise are Hiatal Hernia, Hernia, Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia, Hernia Surgery, and Small Bowel Resection. Dr. Searles is currently accepting new patients.
Mat-Su Valley Iii LLC
Seth Miller is a Gastroenterologist in Palmer, Alaska. Dr. Miller has been practicing medicine for over 21 years and is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Hiatal Hernia. His top areas of expertise are Chronic Erosive Gastritis, Diverticular Disease, Familial Adenomatous Polyposis, Colonoscopy, and Gastrectomy.
Mat-Su Valley Iii LLC
Divesh Anireddy is a Gastroenterologist in Palmer, Alaska. Dr. Anireddy and is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Hiatal Hernia. His top areas of expertise are Chronic Erosive Gastritis, Benign Esophageal Stricture, Visceromegaly, Gastrectomy, and Endoscopy.
Treatment can relieve most symptoms of hiatal hernia.
Complications may include:
- Pulmonary (lung) aspiration
- Slow bleeding and iron deficiency anemia (due to a large hernia)
- Strangulation (closing off) of the hernia (very uncommon)
Contact your health care provider if:
- You have symptoms of a hiatal hernia.
- You have a hiatal hernia and your symptoms get worse or do not improve with treatment.
- You develop new symptoms.
Controlling risk factors such as obesity may help prevent hiatal hernia.
Summary: Hiatal hernia can present with a wide range of symptoms. An usual surgical repair technique usually includes Nissen fundoplication, while other procedures are less frequently employed. However, recurrence and reoperation rates remain high. This randomized controlled trial aims to compare the efficacy of Nissen and Dor fundoplication in preventing hiatal hernia recurrence and reducing the risk of r...
Summary: The aim of this study is to evaluate the perioperative analgesic and intraoperative hemodynamic effects of ultrasound-guided bilateral recto-intercostal fascial plane block in patients undergoing laparoscopic Hiatus hernia repair.
Published Date: May 02, 2023
Published By: Michael M. Phillips, MD, Emeritus Professor of Medicine, The George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Battafarano RJ. Esophagus: Management of paraesophageal hernia repair. In: Cameron J, ed. Current Surgical Therapy. 14th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:3-80.
Falk GW, Katzka DA. Diseases of the esophagus. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 129.
Lord KA, Lippincott J. Hiatal hernia. In: Ferri FF, ed. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2023. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:749.e2-749.e5.
Yates RB, Oelschlager BK. Gastroesophageal reflux disease and hiatal hernia. In: Townsend CM Jr, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, eds. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 21st ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2022:chap 43.