Hiatal hernia and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are pathologies that go hand in hand, and their clinical manifestation considerably alters the patient’s quality of life.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease is the backflow of gastric content into the esophagus and/or larynx, resulting in acid burns.
The most frequent clinical manifestations are reflux, belching, abdominal bloating or swelling after food intake, abdominal pain at the pit of the stomach that radiates up toward the chest, heartburn, acidity, nighttime coughing, and a dry mouth with bad odor in the morning.
An upper gastrointestinal endoscopy is the indicated paraclinical study to make a correct diagnosis of this pathology, as it allows not only the observation of the erosive lesions of this disease but also the taking of biopsies from the esophagus and stomach.
A sliding hiatal hernia perpetuates gastroesophageal reflux, which is why hernia repair and anti-reflux surgery is an appropriate therapeutic option when tailored to each individual patient.
Laparoscopic hiatal repair and fundoplication have cure rates for the disease of up to 99% of cases.
For more information, check the “Indications for Anti-Reflux Surgery” section.
