Hiatus Hernia

WHAT IS A HIATUS HERNIA?

A Hiatus Hernia occurs when the stomach partially pushes up into the chest by squeezing through an opening in the diaphragm. A diaphragm is a large sheet of muscle separating the chest from the abdomen. The opening in the diaphragm is known as the hiatus.

The esophagus, a tube carrying food to the stomach, passes through the diaphragm to reach your stomach. At the base of the esophagus is a ring-like muscle, the sphincter, a one-way valve which closes the lower esophagus. When the stomach slides up through the hiatus, it prevents the sphincter from closing the lower portion of the esophagus.

A Hiatus Hernia allows stomach contents, particularly stomach acid, to move up into the esophagus. This normally causes heartburn and other problems. When the hernia gets larger seek for proper treatment or hernia surgery in Dubai.

CAUSES

A Hiatus Hernia is mainly caused due to weakened muscle tissue which your stomach to push up through your diaphragm. The other causes of  Hiatus Hernia are:

  1. Age-related changes in your diaphragm
  2. A certain injury caused to the area such as trauma or any types of surgery
  3. Being born with an unusually large hiatus
  4. Persistent pressure on the muscles of the stomach or abdomen while coughing, bending, vomiting, straining during a bowel movement, exercising or lifting heavy objects
  5. This condition can affect anyone, but it is more common in the people over fifties, smokers, and people who are overweight or pregnant

SYMPTOMS

Small Hiatal hernias show no symptoms. But symptoms of larger Hiatal hernias are:

  1. Heartburn
  2. Splashing up of food or liquids into the mouth
  3. Back flow of stomach acid into the esophagus
  4. Difficulty swallowing
  5. Chest or abdominal pain
  6. Shortness of breath
  7. Vomiting of blood
  8. Symptoms of Asthma
  9. Croaky voice
  10. Black stools which indicate gastrointestinal bleeding

COMPLICATIONS

A Hiatus Hernia may also cause a feeling of food trapping in the esophagus, or fullness after eating a small amount of food.

In some people in whom a large portion of the stomach is trapped in the chest, eating a large meal may cause breathlessness,  irregular heartbeat, as the enlarged stomach puts pressure on the lungs or heart.

A Hiatus Hernia can lead to acid reflux into your esophagus, causing heartburn. The acid reflux can also lead to ulcers or even blood vomit.

The Hiatus Hernia also increases the risk of Barrett esophagus cancer.

If the condition gets beyond control you should go for hernia surgery in Dubai.

TREATMENT

The various methods of treatment aim acid reflux cure, which prevents acids from flowing back into the esophagus by either preventing reflux into the esophagus or by reducing the amount of stomach acid produced.

Following a healthy lifestyle may help them. Those people who are suffering from hiatal hernia should avoid alcohol, caffeinated drinks, chocolate, and foods that increase the production of acid. Take smaller means and foods which are fiber-rich.

The hernia surgery doctor in Dubai first tries to treat it with medications as medications can usually relieve its symptoms. But if these treatments fail, it might require surgery.

The abdominal hernia surgery in Dubai is done as laparoscopy. In this surgery doctors make thre to four small incisions into the abdomen, then they take the surgical instruments and insert them by these cuts, the doctor will use a laparoscope which will guide them from the picture it displays on the monitor in the room. During the procedure, the stomach is placed into the correct position and the diaphragm is tightened.

As this is a minimally invasive surgery, there is less risk of infection and very minor pain. So patients usually go home the same day.

LAB TEST

A hiatal hernia is determined through a few tests. These tests or procedures include:

  1. X-ray –  A chalky solution is given to the patient that coats and fills the inside lining of your digestive tract. This helps your doctor to see an X-ray of your esophagus, stomach, and upper intestine.
  2. Endoscopy. Your doctor inserts endoscope which is a thin, flexible tube fitted with a light and camera, down your throat, to examine the inside of your esophagus and stomach to check for any inflammation.
  3. Esophageal manometry – It is done to measure the muscle contractions in your esophagus when you swallow. It is also helpful in determining the force exerted by the muscles of your esophagus.

RECOVERY

Most people do not experience much pain after laparoscopic surgery, but they may feel discomfort in their abdomen and chest sometimes  may  feel difficulty in swallowing for  few  days post laparoscopy. As this procedure requires a minimum invasion, there are not many risks involved. A person may home the same day as soon as they recover from the anesthesia effect. Otherwise, they may need to spend a night in the hospital and should be able to walk around the day after the surgery. Most people can return to their regular diet after a month of surgery.