Can a Hiatal Hernia Be Repaired with Laparoscopic Surgery?

If you’ve recently received a hiatal hernia diagnosis, one of the most important things you can do to improve your condition is to learn about treatment options. Whether you are in the beginning stages of your treatment journey as a hiatal hernia patient or further along and in search of alternatives, you’ve come to the right place.

Orange County Robotic General Surgery is a hernia repair clinic in California. Dr. Abtin Khosravi, M.D, FACS, renowned hernia repair and robotics surgery specialist, wants patients to know that, yes, hiatal hernias can be repaired laparoscopically. Continue reading to learn how.

Is Surgery Necessary to Repair a Hiatal Hernia?

Normally, small hernias are not serious enough to cause significant distress or discomfort. Most people with small hernias are unaware of them, while others experience symptoms occasionally. Individuals who experience persistent symptoms often have hernias large enough to cause them.

Hiatal hernias are a widespread medical condition that affects children and adults. Though in children, the condition is usually caused by congenital issues. In adults, however, the condition can be triggered by various factors, including the following:

• Obesity
• Age
• Gender
• Underlying or coexisting conditions
• Medical history
• Personal considerations

Conventional treatments are self-care, lifestyle changes, medication, and surgery. Self-care and lifestyle changes involve patients changing their diet, the size and timing of their meals, and increasing physical activity. Those with hernias unresponsive to primary treatment protocols may receive medication like proton pump inhibitors, antacids, and H2 blockers to decrease the acidity of their gastric secretions and reduce stomach acid activity.

These treatment measures are not effective for everyone, nor are they ideal for long-term hiatal hernia care. The suppressive effects of medication on hernia symptoms fade over time, decreasing their effectiveness.

Many hiatal hernia patients, at some point, end up having surgery. The standard medical procedure recommended for hiatal hernia patients is laparoscopic surgery. Laparoscopic hiatal hernia repair surgery is also the most preferred treatment for hernia patients forgoing primary treatment measures to get rid of their hernias quicker with minimal personal commitment.

Why Is Laparoscopic Surgery the Standard for Hernia Treatment?

Laparoscopic surgeries utilize laparoscopic practices and tools to enhance the positive effects of the repairs while lowering the negative effects of surgical procedures in general on the body. Patients have less soreness and discomfort after surgery, fewer post-operative restrictions, faster recoveries, and better and longer-lasting effects. Hiatal hernias can and often redevelop in or near the hernia site months to years after initial repair surgery.

Dr. Khosravi recommends laparoscopic hernia surgery because it significantly lowers the chances of recurrent hernias or hernia symptoms and new hernia formation.

Some patients, however, are better suited for conventional hernia surgery. Traditional hernia repair surgery is an open operation. The procedure requires Dr. Khosravi to make incisions near the hernia so he can use laparoscopic surgical instruments (a laparoscope and surgical tools) to perform the repair.

Laparoscopic Hiatal Hernia Surgery

Dr. Khosravi inserts a laparoscopic tube with a special light and camera on the end so he can identify the location of the hernia, evaluate the repair site and seal the breach in the muscular walls. Laparoscopy practices make hiatal hernia surgeries safer, more effective at hernia pain and symptom relief and hernia repair, and a more practical option for most patients than all other hernia surgery types.

Hiatal hernia repairs can be done manually with the surgeon’s hands inside of the patient’s body or robotically, with the specially engineered and state-of-the-art da Vinci Surgery System. Robotic hiatal hernia repair is another more commonly known name for robotic hiatal hernia surgery. In robotic hiatal hernia repair surgery, Dr. Khosravi uses his hands to perform the surgery robotically with tiny surgical instruments attached to the da Vinci Surgery System.

The benefits of robotic hernia surgery include:

Tiny surgical incisions: Smaller cuts are less painful to manage during recovery. Patients heal faster and experience fewer healing impairments and complications. Recovery and patient downtime are very minuscule.

Patient-friendly recovery guidelines: The post-operative and long-term effects of surgery on immediate and overall health are more tolerable. Patients have greater control over their recoveries. Minimally invasive procedures mean fewer lifestyle adjustments for a shorter length of time. The average recovery time for laparoscopic surgery is a few weeks. Patients enjoy greater flexibility and convenience when scheduling, preparing for, and recovering from hiatal surgery.

Less pain: Pain is normal after surgery and, in most cases, manageable with prescription and nonprescription analgesics. Most laparoscopic hiatal hernia repair patients have very little pain or discomfort during the first two weeks after their operation. Open surgery patients have more pain and additional pain management considerations.

Open Hiatal Hernia Surgery

Traditional hernia repair procedures are often advised for some patients. Certain health exclusions apply for minimally invasive surgical procedures, especially hiatal hernia repairs. Dr. Khosravi offers conventional hiatal hernia repair surgery for patients ineligible for laparoscopic hernia surgery.

Conventional surgeries involve the use of general anesthesia and conventional surgical practices, which are more damaging to the skin, nerves, and tissue fibers that make up the connective and muscular layers than laparoscopic procedures. As a result, patients experience more pain and potential complications that prolong their recoveries and compromise their outcomes.

Despite the drawbacks, including invasiveness, patient recovery time, and other side effects, traditional surgery remains a safe and effective treatment for persistent or frequent hernia symptoms and all types of hiatal hernias.

Orange County Robotic General Surgery Laparoscopic Hiatal Hernia Repair

Don’t risk your health or life ignoring hernia pain and symptoms. Call (714) 541-4996 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Abtin Khosravi, M.D., FACS, advanced laparoscopic and robotic surgeon and hernia repair specialist, to learn the most beneficial treatment for your situation.