Hernia repair
Hiatal hernia repair
A hernia where part of the stomach slides up through the diaphragm into the chest. Its main consequence is reflux, and most people are treated without surgery.
In plain language
What this operation is
The food pipe passes into the abdomen through an opening in the diaphragm called the hiatus. In a hiatal hernia that opening is enlarged, and part of the stomach slides up through it into the chest.
Unlike other hernias, you cannot see or feel it. What you notice are its effects — heartburn, an acid taste, pain behind the breastbone, a cough at night, or a feeling of food sticking.
Most hiatal hernias are managed with medication and changes to diet and habits, and for many people that is enough. Surgery is considered where symptoms persist despite proper treatment, or where the hernia is large.
Who it is for
When this operation is advised
- Reflux symptoms that persist despite adequate medical treatment
- Reliance on acid-suppressing medication over a long period
- A large hernia, or one where part of the stomach has rotated
- Complications of reflux found at endoscopy
And when it is not. Small hiatal hernias found incidentally, with no symptoms, generally need no treatment at all. Surgery is not the first step for reflux.
How it works
From assessment to follow-up
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01
Investigation
Endoscopy, and sometimes tests of food-pipe pressure and acid exposure. These establish whether surgery would help.
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02
Medical treatment first
Medication and changes to diet, meal timing and sleeping position are tried before surgery is considered.
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03
The operation
Where surgery is appropriate: laparoscopic repair of the hiatus, usually combined with a fundoplication wrap.
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04
Afterwards
A staged diet from liquids to soft food to normal, following the plan given at discharge.
Afterwards
What recovery involves
Recovery differs between patients. What follows is what usually happens — your own timeframe is given at discharge, based on the operation you actually had.
- A staged return to normal food is expected rather than immediate.
- Difficulty swallowing in the early weeks is common and usually settles as swelling reduces.
- Heavy lifting and straining are restricted for a period given at discharge.
- Whether acid-suppressing medication can be reduced is decided at follow-up.
When to go to hospital instead
Severe chest pain, vomiting that will not stop, or vomiting blood needs emergency hospital assessment — not a chamber appointment.
Common questions
Questions patients ask
Anything not covered here can be answered at the consultation.
01 Can a hiatal hernia be cured with medicine?
Medicine treats the reflux, not the hernia itself — the enlarged opening in the diaphragm remains. For most people controlling the symptoms is enough, which is why medical treatment comes first.
Treatment02 Is a hiatal hernia dangerous?
Most are not, and many cause no symptoms. Large hernias, or ones where part of the stomach rotates, need closer attention because of the risk of obstruction. Which type you have is established at investigation.
Risk03 বুক জ্বালাপোড়া মানেই কি হাইয়াটাল হার্নিয়া?
না। বুক জ্বালাপোড়ার অনেক কারণ আছে, এবং সবচেয়ে সাধারণ কারণ অ্যাসিড রিফ্লাক্স। হাইয়াটাল হার্নিয়া আছে কি না তা এন্ডোস্কোপি করে জানা যায়। বুকে তীব্র ব্যথা হলে সেটিকে গ্যাস্ট্রিক ধরে বসে থাকবেন না — হাসপাতালে যান।
লক্ষণNext step
Bring your reports to a consultation
Often one visit is enough to know whether an operation is needed at all.