What’s A Paraesophageal Hernia
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.
Patients with paraesophageal hernia describe a number of non specific symptoms that actually do relate to the hernia such as abdominal discomfort after taking food, nausea, breathlessness, palpitations and chest pain. Heart burn is not expected in patients with pure type Ii hernia. But it is not uncommon in type II or mixed hernia.
The clinical manifestations of paraesophageal hernia include anemia, bleeding from ulceration in the stomach which has herniated, obstruction and volvulus of the stomach. Sometimes these symptoms may mimic ulcer disease, heart attack or pneumonia.
The serious complications of paraesophageal hernia include volvulus, obstruction and strangulation. In strangulation, the herniated organ is compressed along with its blood vessel and it is an emergency. Paraesophageal hernia has to be treated if it is symptomatic or if any complication has developed.
Written by admin on June 6th, 2008 with
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