A hiatal hernia is a medical condition wherein the stomach pushes through an opening in the diaphragm, leading to protruding tissues in the stomach. The diaphragm is the dome-shaped partition between the thorax and the abdomen. It has a small opening, known as hiatus, through which the esophagus connects with the stomach. A hiatal hernia occurs when the stomach pushes through the diaphragm requiring hiatal hernia surgery in Herrin and Mount Vernon.
What is Hiatal Hernia?
A small hiatal hernia may not cause any pain or discomfort. But a large hiatal hernia can allow food and stomach acids to back up into the esophagus, leading to symptoms of acid reflux and heartburn. In severe cases, if a portion of the stomach squeezes through the hiatus, its blood supply can get cut off, leading to a medical emergency known as a strangulated hiatal hernia.
Types of Hiatal Hernia
Sliding Hiatal Hernia
Sliding hiatal hernia accounts for 95% of all hiatal hernias. In this case, the gastroesophageal region protrudes into the chest cavity.
Paraesophageal Hiatal Hernia
Paraesophageal hiatal hernia is a rare form of hiatal hernia. It occurs when a part of the stomach pushes through the hiatus — this type of hernia has a higher risk of strangulation.
Symptoms of Strangulated Hiatal Hernia:
- Severe chest and abdominal pain
- Inability to have bowel movements
- Inability to pass gas
- Nausea and vomiting
Your Minimally Invasive Hiatal Hernia Surgery
Dr. Ahuja performs advanced hiatal hernia surgery in Herrin and Mount Vernon using laparoscopic or robot-assisted techniques. He makes small incisions on both sides of the hernia and inserts the laparoscope through one incision and the surgical instruments through the others. After identifying the defect in the diaphragm, he pulls the stomach down into the abdominal cavity, following which the top part of the stomach is wrapped around the bottom end of the esophagus.
Benefits of Laparoscopic Hiatal Hernia:
- Only involves a few small incisions around the hernia
- Causes minimal pain and discomfort after the procedure
- Reduces the post-treatment recovery time
- Involves minimal post-treatment downtime
- Performed as an outpatient procedure
- Causes minimal scarring
Recovery After Hiatal Hernia Surgery
After your hiatal hernia surgery, you may experience soreness, bruising, tenderness, and other mild side effects. You must eat 4 to 6 small meals per day instead of larger meals to prevent your stomach from expanding. You will also be on a liquid or soft food diet for a few weeks. You can resume your daily activities and work after a week, but strenuous workouts and physical activities must be avoided for at least 4 to 6 weeks.
Schedule an Appointment
Ahuja Bariatric & Beyond is a state-of-the-art multi-specialty medical center specializing in laparoscopic and robot-assisted surgeries. Dr. Ahuja is an exceptional surgical expert with 4000+ bariatric surgeries and thousands of other gastrointestinal surgeries under his belt. He performs minimally invasive surgeries that ensure optimal results while minimizing the risk of complications. Please schedule an appointment with Dr. Ahuja if you have questions regarding hiatal hernia surgery in Herrin and Mount Vernon.
