Hiatal Hernia Specialist

Center for Advanced Surgery

Gastro-Esophageal and Endoscopic Surgeons located in Dallas, Plano, & Tyler, TX

By the age of 60, around 60% of Americans have a hiatal hernia. Regardless of your age, if you have a hiatal hernia that interferes with your health and quality of life, surgical repair might be the best treatment option. Board-certified gastroesophageal surgeons Marc Ward, MD, and Steven Leeds, MD, offer minimally invasive surgical repair for hiatal and paraesophageal hernias at the Center for Advanced Surgery in Dallas, Plano, and Tyler, Texas. Call the practice or schedule a consultation online today to learn about your surgical treatment options for a hiatal hernia.

Hiatal Hernia

What is a hiatal hernia?

The hiatus is the opening in your diaphragm that allows your esophagus to pass from your chest into your abdomen. A hiatal hernia is a condition that occurs when your stomach pushes through that opening and into your chest.

There are several types of hiatal hernias, including:

Type 1 — sliding hernia (your stomach and the connecting part of the esophagus slide into your chest)
Type 2 — paraesophageal hernia (stomach pushes up next to the esophagus)
Type 3 — paraesophageal hernia (esophagus retracts into the chest)
Type 4 — other organs enter the hiatal hernia

Hiatal hernias often develop because of age-related changes that weaken your diaphragm. Your risk of a hiatal hernia also increases following trauma or surgery in the area or a severe, chronic cough that puts pressure on the diaphragm.

What are the signs of a hiatal hernia?

In many cases, a hiatal hernia doesn’t cause noticeable symptoms. However, if your hernia becomes more substantial, you could experience:

Heartburn
Regurgitation
Acid reflux
Problems swallowing
Chest pain
Abdominal pain
Shortness of breath

In severe cases, a hiatal hernia can cause bleeding in your gastrointestinal tract. If this happens, you might find blood in your stool or vomit blood. You should always seek medical care if you have signs of gastrointestinal bleeding.

How do you treat hiatal hernias?

The team at the Center for Advanced Surgery offers minimally invasive laparoscopic surgeries to repair hiatal hernias. During laparoscopic surgery, your physician makes a few small incisions in your abdomen. They insert special surgical tools, including a laparoscope, into your body.

A laparoscope is a thin tube with a camera and light on its tip that transmits images from inside your body to a monitor in the operating room. Your doctor can examine your hiatal hernia and complete the repairs without making a large incision in your body.

What are the benefits of minimally invasive hiatal hernia surgery?

Minimally invasive hiatal hernia surgery is often an outpatient procedure. Laparoscopic techniques often minimize recovery time, complications, and use of pain medications. You can typically return to your regular activities within a couple of weeks.

If you need hiatal hernia surgery, call the Center for Advanced Surgery, or make an appointment online today.

"We see patients for Gastroesophageal reflux disease, Achalasia, and Hiatal Hernia. Call us to book your appointment today."

What we offer