Hiatal Hernia Surgery

What Is a Hiatal Hernia?

A hiatal hernia occurs when the top of the stomach pushes through the muscle that separates the abdomen and the chest. A minor form of this condition usually happens without much of an issue, but a larger hiatal hernia can cause major problems such as heartburn and discomfort that require treatment. An extremely large hiatal hernia may require surgery and could cause complications such as pneumonia and bronchitis. 

This condition gets its name from the small opening at the top of your diaphragm, which is called the hiatus. Your esophagus passes through the hiatus before it connects to the stomach, and your stomach pushing up through that opening causes the hiatal hernia. 

What Causes Hiatal Hernia?

Common causes of hiatal hernia include changes to the diaphragm that come naturally with age, injury, actions that strain the muscles in your chest or stomach (bowel movements, coughing, etc.) and even rapid weight gain or loss, which includes weight loss from weight-loss surgery. Though rare, a weight-loss procedure can cause a hiatal hernia so it is important to be aware of the symptoms and contact your treatment team if you start to notice any changes. 

Symptoms of Hiatal Hernia After Gastric Sleeve Surgery 

A hiatal hernia is uncommon after gastric sleeve surgery but can happen. If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, please contact your treatment team. 

Some symptoms of hiatal hernia after gastric sleeve include: 

• Heartburn
• Hiccups
• Bloating
• Burping/belching
• Regurgitating your food
• Trouble swallowing
• Trouble breathing
• Asthma
• Chronic bronchitis or pneumonia
• Sour taste in throat or esophagus
• Cough

These symptoms of hiatal hernia are common issues for many people on a day-to-day basis, but it is extra important to keep an eye out post-weight-loss surgery as anything out of the ordinary could be a sign of a complication.