Precise Relief in Expert Hands
A hiatus hernia occurs when a portion of the stomach pushes up through the diaphragm into the chest cavity. This can lead to chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), causing symptoms like heartburn, regurgitation, and chest pain.
Anti-reflux surgery is designed to correct these issues and improve your quality of life. At Veritas Specialist Centre, we offer advanced laparoscopic surgery to repair hiatus hernias and manage GERD. Our minimally invasive techniques ensure faster recovery times, reduced pain, and minimal scarring.
Understanding Hiatus Hernias
The most common type of hiatus hernia is called a “sliding hernia” where the stomach moves in and out of the chest. The ligament holding it down is loose and so the stomach can move unhindered. Quite often these are causing no symptoms and can be left alone.
A “rolling” hernia is where a lower part of the stomach pushes through the diaphragm but the junction between the gullet and stomach remains put. This is very similar to a “para-oesophageal” hernia otherwise known as large or massive hiatus hernia.
These last two often cause problems and can actually be dangerous, sometimes blocking the blood supply to part or all of the stomach. These large hernias also sometimes contain other abdominal organs like the spleen, pancreas or large bowel.
A Surgical Solution
Veritas Specialist Centre offers minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery to repair the hiatus hernia and enhance the function of the lower oesophageal sphincter.
This procedure helps to prevent stomach acid from moving back up into the oesophagus, reducing symptoms like heartburn and regurgitation.
Hiatus hernia surgery involves pulling the stomach back into the abdomen and tightening the diaphragm opening to prevent the stomach from protruding again. This procedure is often combined with anti-reflux surgery to provide comprehensive relief from symptoms.
Anti-Reflux Surgery (Fundoplication) involves wrapping the top part of the stomach around the lower oesophagus to strengthen the valve between the oesophagus and stomach. This prevents stomach acid from refluxing into the oesophagus, effectively reducing heartburn and regurgitation.
To explore if hiatus hernia and anti-reflux surgery is right for you, contact our team to request a call or book a consultation today.
FAQs
- Hiatus hernia and reflux are NOT the same thing, but a hiatus hernia can sometimes make reflux symptoms worse.
- While they sound the same, this is not the same as a groin hernia or belly button hernia; hiatus hernias are often a result of obesity, repeated high abdominal pressures and/ or an underlying connective tissue weakness.
- Not all hiatus hernias are equal or need to be fixed.
- A gastroscope study doesn’t always tell you the right information about a hiatus hernia. Sometimes other studies need to be done if things aren’t quite right.
While generally safe, risks include infection, bleeding, injury to surrounding organs, and difficulty swallowing post-surgery. Long-term risks might involve gas-bloat syndrome or recurrence of the hernia, but these are rare.
Most patients can return home the next day and resume normal activities within a week. Complete recovery usually takes around 2-3 weeks. Dietary modifications are recommended for the initial recovery period to ensure proper healing.
Anti-reflux surgery offers a long-term solution compared to medication, which may need to be taken indefinitely. Surgery provides significant relief from GERD symptoms and can improve quality of life for those with severe or medication-resistant reflux.
The cost involves a combination of Medicare rebates, private health fund contributions, and out-of-pocket expenses. An all-inclusive fee is provided, covering the consultation through to post-operative care.
