How Do You Explore Surgical Options For A Hiatal Hernia?
Most people have experienced heartburn, typically following a huge meal of acidic foods. Some antacids, perhaps a belch and it’s better. A hiatal hernia represents an entirely different problem. It is a structural abnormality that can allow stomach contents to go places they are not supposed to go–like in one’s middle ear! Sometimes this problem requires surgery. See your personal doctor to define the kind of problem you have. Make sure you really have a hiatal hernia. If you have one, find out if it is a sliding type hernia or a para-esophageal type hernia. Your doctor will probably order an upper GI (barium swallow) and may send you to a gastroenterologist for endoscopy. Be aggressive about medical treatment of a sliding type hernia. These are usually only treated surgically if symptoms persist after a good trial period of medical treatment has failed. Pursue surgery immediately if you have a para-esophageal hernia that places you at risk for strangulation of a portion of your stoma
