Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsBenefits of SurgeryPossible Future SurgeriesLifestyle AdjustmentsNext in Hiatal Hernia Surgery GuideHiatal Hernia Surgery: Overview
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Benefits of Surgery
Possible Future Surgeries
Lifestyle Adjustments
Next in Hiatal Hernia Surgery Guide
Recovery fromhiatal hernia surgerytakes some time and requires many lifestyle changes; however, most can return more or less to normal within six weeks, with complete return to activity expected at three months.Critical to the success ofhiatal herniasurgery is careful attention to long-term care.
What is the outlook after this treatment? What can you do to ensure thatgastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)symptoms stay away? Here’s what you can expect when it comes to life after this operation.
Verywell / Jessica Olah
The symptoms of GERD can arise due tohiatal hernia, in which, due to a weakness or tear in the diaphragm, the stomach slides out of position and accesses the chest cavity.
The primary benefit of hiatal hernia surgery is to relieve GERD symptoms and/or those associated with chronic reflux, in which stomach acids flood the esophagus in the throat. These include:
These are typically resolved with surgery; about 90% of patients are satisfied with treatment, and 70% see complete relief of symptoms.However, some measures need to be taken to maintain that outcome:
Stay communicative with the medical team about symptoms; especially if surgery along with medications has not resolved them. Essential to long-term outcomes for this surgery is patient communication; be sure to let your healthcare provider know if anything seems awry, or if symptoms are coming back or worsening.
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Though it’s relatively low, there’s a chance that additional surgery may be needed if hiatal hernia surgery doesn’t yield results, or in response to conditions that can follow it. What sorts of procedures might be employed? Here’s a quick overview:
Revision
In cases where an initial surgery hasn’t yielded results—and the hernia persists despite the treatment—healthcare providers may indicate surgery to correct the issue.Since this is done on parts of the body that have already been operated upon, surgeons need to work particularly carefully and carefully gauge whether patients are good candidates.
Surgery for Esophageal Stricture
Some patients experience esophageal stricture after hiatal hernia surgery, in which the esophagus narrows as a result of exposure to stomach acids. If non-surgical techniques don’t work to resolve problematic cases, then the healthcare provider may employ a minimally-invasive, laparoscopic surgery to essentially open up these areas.
Esophageal Stricture Symptoms and Treatment
Barrett’s Esophagus Treatment
How Barrett’s Esophagus Is Treated
Anyone undergoing hiatal hernia surgery will have to undergo significant lifestyle changes. As mentioned, a specific post-operative diet will be crucial in the first six weeks; however, the work shouldn’t end there.
In fact, many pre-operative strategies you’ll have tried—such as dietary changes—will still be needed. As such, there are a number of broader changes you can make to improve prognosis and prevent relapse of GERD or other symptoms:
Exercise
It’s hard to overstate the health benefits of fitness work, and ensuring a good, regular routine will no doubt help ensure that symptoms don’t return. Of course, you have to be careful and avoid heaving lifting or abdominal strain for the first three months; however, getting light exercise will prevent complications in the earlier going.
Down the line, too, a dedicated fitness plan can also help lose weight, preventing the risk of obesity-related recurrence.
Skip Acidic Foods
Largely, it’s a good idea to cut out foods and drinks that can worsen stomach acid problems. Though it can vary from person to person, typically this means steering clear of spicier foods, fried foods, coffee, carbonated beverages, and chocolate, among others.
The 8 Most Acidic Foods and Their Impact on Your Health
Diet and Weight Loss
Given the impact that obesity can have on outcomes for this surgery, you may also want to work with a dietician to devise a healthy meal plan. This would feature fresh vegetables and healthy proteins, while de-emphasizing salts and sugars. Don’t be afraid to ask your healthcare provider for input on a diet that can encourage weight loss.
Quit Smoking
Among the numerous reasons smoking tobacco can be harmful is the fact that it can lead to complications and issues after surgery. In addition, this habit can have a negative impact on digestion and stomach acidity. There are treatments and approaches that help with cessation; talk to your healthcare provider about them.
Smaller Meals
Throughout recovery from surgery, you’ll be asked to avoid large meals, and to break eating into more numerous smaller ones. It’s a good idea to keep this up even after you’ve recovered from surgery, as this can ease distress on the stomach and prevent relapse of symptoms.
Clothing
GERD or acid reflux can be more prominent if the chest and abdomen are wrapped in tight-fitting clothes. Wearing looser fits are necessary as your incisions, and may help prevent heartburn, nausea, and other symptoms from coming back.
Stay Upright After Eating
Another means of preventing heartburn and reflux is to avoid laying down after meals for at least two hours. This can help prevent stomach acids and digestive juices from flowing up into the esophagus.
A Word From Verywell
For most, hiatal hernia surgery will be part of a longer continuum of care for GERD, but the good news is that this treatment is not only safe but usually decisive in managing the condition. Typically, most symptoms resolve within a week of treatment; however, there’s no doubt that much needs to be done to ensure that they don’t come back.
The work doesn’t end with initial recovery; over the long term,you’ll want to make lifestyle adjustmentsto ensure that surgery is indeed a success. That said, with the right support networks and the guidance of dedicated staff, you’re sure to emerge from treatment healthier and with improved quality-of-life for years to come.
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Larowe E, Reddy R.Preparing for your transthoracic hiatal hernia repair pre and post-operative information. Michigan Medicine. 2017.Cleveland Clinic.Hiatal hernia. 2020.University of Washington Medicine, Center for Esophageal and Gastric Surgery.Paraesophageal hernia what it is and how it is treated. 2013.Waring J.GERD and hiatal hernia surgery. International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders. 2019.Celasin H, Genc V, Celik S, Turkcapar A.Laparoscopic revision surgery for gastroesophageal reflux disease.Medicine (Baltimore). 2017;96(1):e5779. doi:10.1097/md.0000000000005779Cleveland Clinic.Barrett’s esophagus: what is it, symptoms, treatment & tests. 2020.NYU Langone Health.Lifestyle changes for gastroesophageal reflux disease.Kohn GP, Price RR, DeMeester SR, Zehetner J, Muensterer OJ, Awad Z, Mittal SK, Richardson WS, Stefanidis D, Fanelli RD; SAGES Guidelines Committee.Guidelines for the management of hiatal hernia.Surg Endosc. 2013 Dec;27(12):4409-28. doi:10.1007/s00464-013-3173-3
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Larowe E, Reddy R.Preparing for your transthoracic hiatal hernia repair pre and post-operative information. Michigan Medicine. 2017.Cleveland Clinic.Hiatal hernia. 2020.University of Washington Medicine, Center for Esophageal and Gastric Surgery.Paraesophageal hernia what it is and how it is treated. 2013.Waring J.GERD and hiatal hernia surgery. International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders. 2019.Celasin H, Genc V, Celik S, Turkcapar A.Laparoscopic revision surgery for gastroesophageal reflux disease.Medicine (Baltimore). 2017;96(1):e5779. doi:10.1097/md.0000000000005779Cleveland Clinic.Barrett’s esophagus: what is it, symptoms, treatment & tests. 2020.NYU Langone Health.Lifestyle changes for gastroesophageal reflux disease.Kohn GP, Price RR, DeMeester SR, Zehetner J, Muensterer OJ, Awad Z, Mittal SK, Richardson WS, Stefanidis D, Fanelli RD; SAGES Guidelines Committee.Guidelines for the management of hiatal hernia.Surg Endosc. 2013 Dec;27(12):4409-28. doi:10.1007/s00464-013-3173-3
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Larowe E, Reddy R.Preparing for your transthoracic hiatal hernia repair pre and post-operative information. Michigan Medicine. 2017.Cleveland Clinic.Hiatal hernia. 2020.University of Washington Medicine, Center for Esophageal and Gastric Surgery.Paraesophageal hernia what it is and how it is treated. 2013.Waring J.GERD and hiatal hernia surgery. International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders. 2019.Celasin H, Genc V, Celik S, Turkcapar A.Laparoscopic revision surgery for gastroesophageal reflux disease.Medicine (Baltimore). 2017;96(1):e5779. doi:10.1097/md.0000000000005779Cleveland Clinic.Barrett’s esophagus: what is it, symptoms, treatment & tests. 2020.NYU Langone Health.Lifestyle changes for gastroesophageal reflux disease.Kohn GP, Price RR, DeMeester SR, Zehetner J, Muensterer OJ, Awad Z, Mittal SK, Richardson WS, Stefanidis D, Fanelli RD; SAGES Guidelines Committee.Guidelines for the management of hiatal hernia.Surg Endosc. 2013 Dec;27(12):4409-28. doi:10.1007/s00464-013-3173-3
Larowe E, Reddy R.Preparing for your transthoracic hiatal hernia repair pre and post-operative information. Michigan Medicine. 2017.
Cleveland Clinic.Hiatal hernia. 2020.
University of Washington Medicine, Center for Esophageal and Gastric Surgery.Paraesophageal hernia what it is and how it is treated. 2013.
Waring J.GERD and hiatal hernia surgery. International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders. 2019.
Celasin H, Genc V, Celik S, Turkcapar A.Laparoscopic revision surgery for gastroesophageal reflux disease.Medicine (Baltimore). 2017;96(1):e5779. doi:10.1097/md.0000000000005779
Cleveland Clinic.Barrett’s esophagus: what is it, symptoms, treatment & tests. 2020.
NYU Langone Health.Lifestyle changes for gastroesophageal reflux disease.
Kohn GP, Price RR, DeMeester SR, Zehetner J, Muensterer OJ, Awad Z, Mittal SK, Richardson WS, Stefanidis D, Fanelli RD; SAGES Guidelines Committee.Guidelines for the management of hiatal hernia.Surg Endosc. 2013 Dec;27(12):4409-28. doi:10.1007/s00464-013-3173-3
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