What is the diaphragmatic (Hiatal) Hernia?
A hiatal hernia occurs when the upper part of your stomach bulges through the large muscle separating your abdomen and chest (diaphragm). Your diaphragm has a small opening (hiatus) through which your food tube (oesophagus) passes before connecting to your stomach. In a hiatal hernia, the stomach pushes up through that opening and into your chest.
What are its symptoms?
-large hiatal hernias can cause:
*Heartburn.
*Regurgitation of food or liquids into the mouth.
*Backflow of stomach acid into the oesophagus (acid reflux).
*Difficulty swallowing.
*Chest or abdominal pain.
*Shortness of breath.
What is the difference between Hiatal Hernia and other kinds of Hernia?
Hiatal Hernia is not accompanied by a protrusion from the abdominal wall, so it is an inner hernia. For this reason, it is diagnosed by:
*X-ray of your upper digestive system: X-rays are taken after you drink a chalky liquid that coats and fills the inside lining of your digestive tract. The coating allows your doctor to see the silhouette of your oesophagus, stomach and upper intestine.
*Upper endoscopy: for stomach and oesophagus.
*Esophageal manometry: This test measures the rhythmic muscle contractions in your oesophagus when you swallow. Oesophagal manometry also measures the coordination and force exerted by the muscles of your oesophagus.
What is the treatment:
1-Drugs that decrease gastric reflux and heartburn as antacids.
2-Weight loss.
3-Stop smoking.
4-Avoiding food that increases gastric acidity as pepper, salty food, alcohols and spices.
5-Surgery: which is generally used for people who aren't helped by medications to relieve heartburn and acid reflux, or have complications.
Surgery to repair a hiatal hernia may involve pulling your stomach down into your abdomen and making the opening in your diaphragm smaller, reconstructing an oesophagal sphincter or removing the hernia sac.
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