Paraesophageal hernia is a type of hiatus hernia. It is also called type II hiatus hernia. It accounts for 3-5% of all hiatus hernias.
In this type of hiatus hernia, the gastroesophgeal junction is at the normal position at the level of the diaphragm. The stomach herniates alongside the esophagus in to the chest cavity.
Unlike the sliding type of hiatus hernia, paraesophageal hernia is often symptomatic. In paraesophageal hernia, the entire stomach and sometimes even the intestine and spleen may herniated. Complications like obstruction and volvulus can occur. In volvulus, the structures get twisted causing symptoms.
Written by admin on June 6th, 2008 with no comments.
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Hiatus hernia is a type of diaphragmatic hernia. There are various types of diaphragmatic hernias. The term hiatus hernia infers to herniation through the esophageal hiatus. Diaphragm is the partition between the chest and the abdominal cavities.
It contains many hiatus. A hiatus is nothing but an opening. A hernia is a protrusion of an organ or structure in to an opening or pouch. So this implies that a hiatus hernia is the protrusion of an organ through an opening. The hiatus is the esophageal hiatus and the organ that protrudes is the stomach.
Written by admin on June 2nd, 2008 with no comments.
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The contribution of hiatal hernia to GERD has always been a controversial topic. Opinions keep shifting widely. On one end, physicians virtually equated hiatal hernia with the reflux disease.
On the other end, the causal role of hiatal hernia in GERD is completely denied. But still the data collected from various parts of the world confirm the role of hiatal hernia in the causation of GERD.
It has been found that hiatus hernia has a more important relationship in patients, who have developed complications of GERD like severe esophagitis, stricture of the esophagus and Barrett’s esophagus. It has been estimated that hiatal hernia occurs in more than 50% of the patients with esophagitis. This incidence of hiatal hernia is much more than the healthy population confirming the association of hiatal hernia with esophagitis.
There are several mechanisms that are said to be responsible for the occurrence of reflux in patients with hiatal hernia. Hiatal hernia distorts the lower esophageal sphincter. This sphincter is very important in preventing the reflux and distortion of it by the hernia affects this preventive mechanism. The reflux is worse especially in those in whom the hernia remains above the diaphragm between swallows.
Written by admin on May 24th, 2008 with comments disabled.
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Q I am a 70-year-old male who does not smoke or drink alcohol. I am about 65 pounds overweight but am otherwise in relatively good health. However, I have what I believe is a gastrointestinal problem and hope you can help me.
For the last 15 or 20 years, I start coughing or choking during or immediately after eating or drinking.
Often, I regurgitate what appears to be mucus and/or food. These spells can last for several minutes and sometimes occur when drinking water, brushing my teeth or simply rising from a reclined position.
I have seen several doctors and have had numerous tests, including stool analyses, blood tests, barium X-rays, a sigmoidoscopy, a colonoscopy and an endoscopy.
Written by admin on March 12th, 2008 with no comments.
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