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Hiatus Hernia

Comprehending the upper gut

The tube that starts at the mouth and ends at the back passage (anus) is called the gut or gastrointestinal tract..

The upper gut includes the gullet (oesophagus), stomach and the first part of the small intestine (the duodenum). Food passes down the oesophagus into the stomach. The stomach makes acid which is not essential but helps to digest food. After being mixed in the stomach, food passes into the duodenum to be digested.

The walls of the stomach contain muscle. At the junction of the stomach and the oesophagus there is a thickened area of muscle which is called a sphincter. The sphincter acts like a valve. When food comes down the oesophagus into the stomach, the sphincter relaxes. However, it closes at other times to stop food and acid in the stomach refluxing back into the oesophagus.

The diaphragm is a large flat muscle that separates the lungs from the tummy (abdomen). It helps us to breathe.

The oesophagus comes through a hole (hiatus) in the diaphragm just before it joins to the stomach. Normally, all of the stomach is below the diaphragm. The muscle fibres in the diaphragm around the lower oesophagus help the sphincter to keep the oesophagus closed to prevent reflux of acid and food.

Comprehending hernia and hiatus hernia

A hernia occurs when part of an organ pushes (protrudes) through a muscular wall that holds it in place. Hernia appears in different forms. For example, an inguinal hernia is the most common type when part of the lower bowel protrudes through the muscle in the groin.

A hiatus hernia occurs when part of the stomach protrudes through the diaphragm.

Forms of hiatus hernia

Sliding hiatus hernia (Type 1) is the most common type. In this situation, the sphincter muscle at the bottom of the gullet (oesophagus) and the top of the stomach protrudes through the hole (hiatus) in the diaphragm. This is the muscle separating the lungs from the tummy (abdomen). The hernia may slide up and down, in and out of the lower chest. It is often quite small.

Rolling hiatus hernia (Type 2) is less common. In this situation, part of the stomach protrudes up through the hole in the diaphragm next to the oesophagus.

Mixed type: Has both type1 and type 2 components.

Grounds of hiatus hernia and its prevalence

The exact number of people with a hiatus hernia is not known, as many people with a hiatus hernia do not have symptoms. However, they are thought to be common. Some studies suggest that up to a quarter of people being investigated for indigestion (dyspepsia) are discovered to have a hiatus hernia.

The cause of hiatus hernia is not clear but it is found to most develop in people over the age of 50 years which may be resulting out of the weakening of diaphragm muscle with age. This allows part of the stomach to protrude through the hole in the diaphragm. Factors which increase the pressure in the abdomen, such as regular coughing, repeated lifting of heavy objects, or obesity, may increase the risk of developing a hiatus hernia.

There is a rare type of hiatus hernia which occurs in newborn babies, due to a congenital defect of the stomach or diaphragm. ‘Congential’ means that the condition is present from birth.

Manifestations of hiatus hernia and its prevalence

Often there are none

Many people with a hiatus hernia have no symptoms.

Acid retrocession expression

The hernia itself does not cause symptoms. However, if one has a hiatus hernia, the factors that normally prevent stomach acid from refluxing into the gullet (oesophagus) may not work so well. The sphincter muscle may not work properly. The normal pressure of the diaphragm muscle on the oesophagus is lost. Therefore, you are more prone for acid in the stomach to reflux into your oesophagus. The refluxed acid can cause inflammation of the lower part of the oesophagus. This can cause one or more of the following symptoms:

Heartburn: this is the main symptom. This is a burning feeling which rises from the upper tummy(abdomen) or lower chest up towards the neck. (It is confusing as it has nothing to do with the heart!)

Other common symptoms include: pain in the upper abdomen and chest, feeling sick, an acid taste in the mouth, bloating, belching and a burning pain when one swallows hot drinks. Like heartburn, these symptoms tend to come and go and tend to be worse after a meal.

Some uncommon symptoms may occur. If any of these symptoms occur, it can make the diagnosis difficult, as these symptoms can mimic other conditions. For example: A persistent cough, particularly at night, sometimes occurs. This is due to the refluxed acid irritating the windpipe (trachea). Asthma symptoms of cough and wheeze can sometimes be due to acid reflux.

Other mouth and throat symptoms sometimes occur such as gum problems, bad breath, sore throat, hoarseness and a feeling of a lump in the throat.

Severe chest pain develops in some cases which may be mistaken for a heart attack.

It is important to remember that most people with acid reflux do not have a hiatus hernia. Also, most people with a hiatus hernia do not have symptoms of acid reflux. (If one has a hiatus hernia it does not necessarily mean that the sphincter between the oesophagus and stomach does not work so well. It is just that having a hiatus hernia makes you more prone to having a poorly functioning sphincter and more prone to developing acid reflux symptoms.)

However, people with a hiatus hernia who do get reflux, on average, tend to get more severe symptoms and problems associated with acid reflux. This may be because with a hiatus hernia any acid that gets into the oesophagus is more likely to remain in contact with the lining of the oesophagus for longer compared with people without a hiatus hernia.

Identifying hiatus hernia

A hiatus hernia may be diagnosed if one has test for symptoms of reflux. A special X ray called barium or gastrograffin swallow is accurate way of diagnosing hiatus hernia. Endoscopy is now increasingly used. An endoscope is a thin, flexible telescope which is passed down the gullet (oesophagus) into the stomach. This allows a doctor or nurse to look inside. A hiatus hernia may be seen.

Therapeutics of hiatus hernia

If there are no symptoms, in most cases one does not need any treatment. The hiatus hernia usually causes no harm. Occasionally, if one has a hernia which is at risk of complications, one may be offered surgery, even if one does not have any symptoms.

If one has reflux symptoms, one should aim to loose weight in case of being overweight. Also, anything that causes pressure on the stomach should be avoided, such as tight clothing and corsets.

One should aim to stop smoking and alcohol.

Raising the head end of the bed may help with symptoms at night.

If changing lifestyle does not help, one may need medication. Medicines which reduce the action or production of stomach acid, such as antacids or proton pump inhibitors may help.

Hiatus hernia causes severe symptoms of reflux which are not helped so well with medication. Therefore, an operation is occasionally advised. During this operation the stomach is put back into the correct position and the weakened diaphragm muscle around the lower gullet (oesophagus) is tightened. The operation is usually done these days using a laparoscope (a telescope inserted into the stomach).

Nissen Fundoplication (Hiatus hernia Surgery/Acid reflux Surgery) is advised in patinets who are dependent on medicines to supress acidity or in whom acidity symptoms recur as soon as medicines are stopped. Recent evidence suggests surgery is better both economically and symptomatically. Patients taking medicines for long term are likely to suffer from the side effects of medicines which will be prevented by surgery.

Complications of a hiatus hernia

Possible complications may occur if one has long-term reflux of acid into the gullet (oesophagus), which occurs in some cases. These include:

Barrett’s Oesophagus. In this condition the cells that line the lower oesophagus change. The changed cells are more prone than usual to becoming cancerous. (About 1 or 2 people in 100 with Barrett’s oesophagus develop cancer of the oesophagus.)

Cancer. Your risk of developing cancer of oesophagus is slightly increased compared with the normal risk if you have long-term acid reflux. This small increased risk is slightly higher still in people with reflux plus a hiatus hernia. This is because reflux problems, on average, tend to be more severe in people with a hiatus hernia compared to those without a hiatus hernia

Narrowing (a stricture). If there has been a severe and long-standing inflammation it can cause scarring and narrowing of the lower oesophagus. This is uncommon.

Twisting (volvulus) or strangulation (trapping of the hernia with blockage of the circulation).These are rare complications which can occur with some types of hiatus hernia.

However it has to be stressed that most people with reflux or hiatus hernia do not develop any of these complications. They are uncommon. In case one experiences pain or difficulty on swallow (food sticking), one’s doctor should be informed immediately as this may be the first challenge of the condition discussed.

CONCLUSION:

A condition where part of the stomach pushes up into the lower chest through a defect in the diaphragm, is termed as Hiatus hernia. The diaphragm is the large flat muscle that separates the lungs from the tummy (abdomen), which helps us to breathe. Not everyone with a hiatus hernia develops symptoms. However, if one has a hiatus hernia is more prone to reflux acid into the gullet or oesophagus as we know it, which can cause heartburn and other symptoms. If symptoms do occur, treatment with acid-suppressing medication usually works well.