Hiatal Hernia Surgery

A hiatal hernia is the presence of the stomach and esophagus in a higher-than-normal position. In this case, the stomach and esophagus may come into contact with each other, and as a result, gastric juice may escape into the esophagus area. A hiatal hernia can often be seen with a combination called reflux, but it can also occur in people who do not have reflux. Among its symptoms are; abdominal pain, esophagitis (inflammation of the esophagus), nausea, and fatigue. Hiatal hernia surgery is a treatment method used to correct the hernia area with surgical methods. This surgery is usually performed with the laparoscopic surgery technique and thanks to this technique, less damage is done to the human body during the surgical procedure.

In this article, detailed information about hiatal hernia surgery will be given under the following headings:

• What is a hiatal hernia?
• How is the diagnosis of hiatal hernia made?
• What is hiatal hernia surgery?
• What are the risks of hiatal hernia surgery?

What is a Hiatal Hernia?

Hiatal hernia is a health problem that occurs as a result of enlargement of the hiatus. The hiatus is a space in the opening of the upper stomach and diaphragm, and this space is normally very small. But in some people, this space gets bigger and this is called a hiatal hernia. It is more common in people over the age of 40, especially in women than in men. A hiatal hernia can also cause a health problem called reflux.

Symptoms of this health condition known as a hiatal hernia include:

• Pain caused by stomach contents escaping into the esophagus is frequently seen in people with hiatal hernia. This pain is usually felt in the chest area and may become more pronounced when eating.
• There is frequent shortness of breath.
• Hiatal hernia causes high level of secretion of stomach acid. This can lead to nausea and vomiting.
• People may have difficulty swallowing.

How is a hiatal hernia diagnosed?

The diagnosis of hiatal hernia is usually made with examinations such as physical examination, endoscopy, x-ray and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These tests help your doctor determine whether you have a hiatal hernia by examining the condition of the stomach and diaphragm. If a hiatal hernia is detected, your doctor will discuss treatment options with you and help you choose the most appropriate one.

What is Hiatal Hernia Surgery?

Hiatal hernia surgery is usually done to improve the quality of life of people with hiatal hernia by reducing their symptoms. Hiatal hernia surgery is a surgical procedure that aims to correct this health problem by repairing the natural structure of the stomach and diaphragm of a person with a hernia. This surgical procedure is usually performed with the laparoscopic surgery method, thus preventing wound opening during the surgery and reducing the postoperative recovery time. In some cases, this surgical procedure may need to be performed with a completely open surgery method. Surgical interventions are performed to correct the enlargement and usually include the following steps:

• Anesthesia: Before the surgical intervention, the patient is placed under general anesthesia. This step is done so that the surgeon can perform the procedure comfortably and the patient does not suffer from pain.
• Laparoscopic surgery: This surgical technique, which is performed by making small holes, is used to correct the hiatal hernia area. Before laparoscopic devices enter the abdomen, the abdomen is inflated with carbon dioxide gas so that these devices can move more easily.
• Hiatus narrowing: Surgical intervention begins with hiatus narrowing. The process stops the hiatus from expanding, preventing stomach contents from escaping into the esophagus.
• Gastric and esophageal ligation: After narrowing the hiatus, the surgeon connects the stomach and esophagus. This will prevent stomach contents from escaping into the esophagus and reduce the risk of recurrence of the disease.
• Improvement of the surgical field: After the surgical intervention, all necessary measures are taken for the healing of the surgical field. These measures include bandaging the surgical area and keeping it clean.

What are the Risks of Hiatal Hernia Surgery?

Difficulties in swallowing may be observed in patients after surgical procedures. However, such side effects are expected to pass within the first 3 months. In addition to swallowing difficulties, problems such as belching and vomiting may also develop. At the same time, bowel functions may decrease after surgery. This can cause a feeling of bloating with gas accumulation.

Since there will be some changes in the eating pattern after the surgery, patients may lose 6-7 kilos. When there is an increase in weight loss, some health problems may occur in patients. Therefore, a doctor should be consulted. At the same time, re-development of the hernia may occur after surgery. The patient's obesity and the size of the hernia are effective in this.