Hiatal Hernia
Surgery in Chennai

Common symptoms include severe heartburn or chest pain (often after eating or lying down), regurgitation of bitter acid into the mouth, difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), persistent throat irritation, dry cough, bloating, and early satiety.

Surgery is recommended when GERD symptoms fail to respond to proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) medications, when a large paraesophageal hernia poses a risk of strangulation or volvulus, or when complications like severe esophageal inflammation, strictures, or bleeding arise.

It is a minimally invasive (laparoscopic or robotic) procedure. The surgeon pulls the stomach back down into the abdomen, closes the widened opening in the diaphragm (cruroraphy), and wraps the top of the stomach around the lower esophagus (fundoplication) to create a new anti-reflux valve.

Patients must follow a specialized soft/liquid diet for about 2 to 4 weeks. Because of temporary swelling around the new valve, eating solid, hard, or dry foods too early can cause swallowing difficulty. Sticking to small, frequent, soft meals ensures smooth healing.

Hospital stay is typically 1 to 2 days. Most patients return to light activities and desk work within 1 to 2 weeks. However, heavy lifting, strenuous physical exercise, and core straining should be strictly avoided for 6 weeks to allow the diaphragm to heal fully around the repair.