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Hiatus Hernia – Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosing, Treatment

Hiatus Hernia Treatment in India - Hiatus Hernia can be treated laparoscopically through keyhole incisions. Hiatus hernia meaning - when the upper part of the stomach bulges through an opening in the diaphragm

A hiatus hernia is a condition developed when the upper part of the stomach bulges through an opening in the diaphragm. The diaphragm is a muscle that separates the abdomen and chest. It has a small opening through which the food tube passes and connecting to the stomach. In a hiatus hernia, the stomach pushes up through the opening in the diaphragm and bulges into the chest. The bulging of stomach to the chest can cause food and acid going up into the esophagus causing heartburn.

Hiatus Hernia is a condition developed when the upper part of the stomach bulges through an opening in the diaphragm. Hiatus hernia can be repaired Laparoscopically.

Hiatus Hernia occurs when the upper part of the stomach bulges through an opening in the diaphragm

Symptoms of hiatus hernia

Heartburn
Backflow of food and liquids into the mouth
Backflow of stomach acid into the esophagus
Difficulty in swallowing
Chest or abdominal pain
Shortness of breath

Causes

A hiatus hernia may be caused by:

Age-related changes in the muscles of the diaphragm
Injury to the area after trauma or surgery
Birth defects with an unusually large hiatus
Persistent and intense pressure on the surrounding muscles of the diaphragm
Obesity

Diagnosing Hiatus Hernia

Endoscopic examination of the esophagus and the stomach will diagnose the condition. Other test includes x-ray with dye of the upper digestive system and esophageal manometry to measure the rhythmic muscle contractions and coordination and force exerted by the muscles of the esophagus when food is swallowed.

Treatments

Medications are prescribed to ease the symptoms including recurrent heartburn, acid refluxes and to reduce acid production. Medication along with lifestyle modification is necessary:

Consume several smaller meals rather than a few large meals
Avoid fatty or fried foods, tomato sauce, alcohol, chocolate, mint, garlic, onion, and caffeine that trigger heartburn
Avoid lying down right after a meal
Have the dinner at least two to three hours before bedtime.
Maintain a healthy weight or reduce the excess weight
Stop smoking and alcohol consumption
Elevate the head end of bed while lying
Perform any kind of physical activity or exercises at least 5 days a week

Surgical treatment

Options include pulling back the bulged stomach into the abdomen and reconstructing an esophageal sphincter.

Open Method: Less preferred due to difficulty to perform and severe pain the patient will experience later.

Laparoscopic Repair of Hiatus Hernia

It is the gold standard treatment for hiatus hernia with excellent result as the cuts are very small and handling of intestines is very minimal. If required 3 days of hospitalization and the procedure is done under general anesthesia. Short period of reduced activity is recommended – maybe for 10 days.

The patient can have soft diet initially and then normal diet in 2 weeks’ time. The patient may have to continue antacid drugs for a month or so.

Hiatal Hernia Stomach View using Laparoscope. Laparoscopic Repair of Hiatus Hernia is the gold standard treatment for hiatus hernia

Hiatus Hernia – Stomach View

Hiatus Hernia – Wide Hiatus

Esophagus with Vagus Nerve – seen on monitor through laparoscope on repair of Hiatal Hernia

Hiatus Hernia Repair – Hiatus Opening Closed

Fundoplication – Stomach wrap around Esophagus

Hiatus Hernia Treatment in India

Dr. R. Padmakumar performs Hiatus Hernia repair both laparoscopically as well as open procedure. Laparoscopic Treatment has advantages as it is done through keyhole incisions. The cost of hiatus hernia treatment in India is same as that as other parts of the world.

Other Types of Hernias

Other types of Hernias include:

Inguinal hernia
Ventral Hernia
Obturator Hernia
Femoral Hernia
Umbilical hernia
Incisional hernia

Inguinal Hernia

Inguinal hernia is a condition that occurs when abdominal tissues, such as part of the intestine, protrudes through a weak spot of the inguinal canal.

Ventral Hernia

Ventral Hernia can occur in any location of the abdominal wall as a bulge of abdominal tissues through a weak opening in the abdominal wall muscles. When the intestinal tissue gets caught up in the bulge and cannot be pushed back it is called Stangulaged Ventral Hernia.

Obturator Hernia

Obturator Hernia is a very rare type of hernia that occurs through an opening in the pelvis. The intestine bulges through the obturator foramen.

Femoral Hernia

Femoral hernia occurs in the groin junction when the tissues in the lower abdomen push through the upper thigh region.

Umbilical Hernia

Umbilical hernia occurs at the belly button (umbilicus). A loop of intestine pushes through the umbilical ring. in the groin junction when the tissues in the lower abdomen push through the upper thigh region.

Incisional Hernia

Incisional hernia occurs at the location of a previous surgical incision.

Video Talk in Malayalam

View animation – Hiatal Hernia meaning in Malayalam

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Dr. R. Padmakumar is one of the Best Hernia Surgeon in India. He has been changing lives through Keyhole Surgery. He has got more than 30 years of hands-on experience in laparoscopic Surgery in major hospitals across India and has completed more than 7000 cases of Laparoscopic Hernia Surgeries. Dr. Padmakumar has trained more than 300 surgeons from all over the world the art of laparoscopic surgery especially Laparoscopic Hernia Surgery. Dr. Padmakumar is also hailed as one of the Best Bariatric Surgeon in India & UAE. He is renowned for new and improved treatment techniques and the first in the World to perform Scarless Bariatric Surgery with Tummy Tuck / Abdominoplasty. He is also one of the very few thyroid surgeons in India doing Endoscopic Thyroidectomy (scarless thyroid surgery).