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Hiatal Hernia

Dina Madni, MD Our Services Hiatal Hernia

Dina Madni, MD

General Surgeon located in Dallas, TX

Unlike other hernias that create a visible bulge or lump in your abdominal wall, hiatal hernias occur inside your abdominal cavity, so you may not have any signs of a hernia. Board-certified general surgeon Dina Madni, MD, has extensive experience treating hiatal hernias when they cause frequent acid reflux or damage to your esophagus. To learn more about minimally invasive surgery for repairing your hiatal hernia, call the office in Dallas, Texas, or request an appointment online today.

Hiatal Hernia Q & A

What causes a hiatal hernia?

After you swallow food, it travels down your esophagus and into your stomach. To reach your stomach, the esophagus passes through an opening in the diaphragm called the hiatus.

You develop a hiatal hernia when the upper part of your stomach, which is right below the diaphragm, protrudes up through the hiatus and into the chest cavity.

The most common cause of hiatal hernia is increased pressure in your abdominal cavity. This pressure may be due to heavy lifting, coughing, or straining during bowel movements. Pregnancy and being overweight can also lead to a hiatal hernia.

What symptoms develop due to a hiatal hernia?

Since hiatal hernias push through a muscle inside your body, you won’t have a noticeable bulge. You’re also not likely to experience pain due to the hernia. However, you may have the same symptoms as patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), including:

  • Heartburn
  • Chest pain
  • Bloating and belching
  • Discomfort in your stomach or esophagus
  • Bitter taste in the back of your throat

The extent of your symptoms depends on the severity of the hernia. When a small portion of the stomach slides up into the chest area, you probably won’t have any symptoms. In severe cases, however, the entire stomach and other organs can herniate into the chest.

How do you treat a hiatal hernia?

Hiatal hernias are usually diagnosed using a CT scan or an upper endoscopy performed by a gastroenterologist. You may also need tests to determine how well your esophagus contracts before Dr. Madni performs surgery to repair the hernia.

Dr. Madni performs minimally invasive laparoscopic or robotic surgery, and these types of surgery cause less postoperative pain, lower your risk of infection and promote a fast recovery. During your surgery, Dr. Madni returns the stomach back to the abdominal cavity, then closes the opening in the diaphragm and wraps the top of the stomach around the esophagus.

Wrapping the stomach around the esophagus, a procedure called a fundoplication, prevents the hernia from recurring and stops acid reflux.

Most patients can drink liquids the same day, and they’re discharged to go home the next day. You may have a hard time swallowing bulky foods during your recovery. Dr. Madni recommends temporary dietary changes for the first two weeks after your procedure.

When your acid reflux is caused by a hiatal hernia, Dr. Madni offers effective surgical care. Call the office or request an appointment online today. 

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