WhattoknowabouthiatalherniasurgeryMedicallyreviewedbySaurabhSethi,M.D.,MPH—WrittenbyJayneLeonardonMarch31,2018Whenissurgeryrequired?TypesofsurgeryRecoverytimeEffectivenessComplicationsAlternativesTakeawayWeincludeproductswethinkareusefulforourreaders.Ifyoubuythroughlinksonthispage,wemayearnasmallcommission.Here’sourprocess.Ahiatalherniaoccurswhenpartofthestomachmovesupwardsintothechest.Iftheherniacausesseveresymptomsorislikelytocausecomplications,thenhiatalherniasurgerymayberequired.Noteveryonewhohasahiatalherniawillrequiresurgery.Manypeoplewillbeabletotreattheconditionwithmedicationorlifestylechanges.However,forthosewhodoneedsurgery,thereisarangeofproceduresavailable,themostcommonbeingNissenfundoplication.Thisarticlediscusseshiatalherniasurgeryprocedures,expectedrecoverytimes.complications,andrisks.Whenissurgeryrequired?ShareonPinterestHiatalherniascanoftenbetreatedwithmedicationorlifestylechanges,butsomemayrequiresurgery.Mosthiatalherniasdonotcausesymptoms,andthereforetreatmentisnotusuallynecessary.Thosewhohavemildsymptoms,suchasheartburn,acidreflux,orgastroesophagealrefluxdisorder(GERD)maybeabletotreattheirconditionwithmedicationsorlifestylechanges.However,surgerymayberecommendedif:symptomsaresevereandinterferewithqualityoflifesymptomsdonotrespondtoothertreatmentstheherniaisatriskofbecomingstrangulated,whichiswherethebloodsupplytotheherniatedtissueiscutoff—asituationthatcanbefatalsymptomsincludebleeding,ulcers,ornarrowingofthefoodpipe(esophagus),whichisknownasanesophagealstrictureWhattypesofsurgeryarethere?Therearethreetypesofsurgeryforahiatalhernia:Nissenfundoplication(keyholesurgery),openrepairs,andendoluminalfundoplication.Allthreeproceduresrequireageneralanesthetic.NissenfundoplicationANissenfundoplicationisthemostcommonlyperformedsurgeryforahiatalhernia.Thisprocedureuseslaparoscopicrepairorkeyholesurgery.Thissurgeryisminimallyinvasiveandonlyrequiresthesurgeontomakeafewtinyincisionsintheabdomen.Thesurgeoninsertsalaparoscope,whichisathintubewithalightandacamer