There are many different types of hernias and sometimes it can be confusing knowing if you have one and if it is a cause for concern. Hernias are common but because they can manifest quite differently, they are often misunderstood.
Sometimes hernias are asymptomatic and do not require any medical intervention and sometimes they can cause issues that jeopardize your health. How do you know what size hiatal hernia needs surgery? Is it the size or location that determines the need for surgery vs taking the watchful-waiting approach?
Today we are going to talk about hernias and the difference between a medium size hiatal hernia and a moderate-size hiatal hernia, how to recognize hernia symptoms, and when surgery to correct a hernia should be performed.
Why Does A Hernia Occur?
Muscles and tissue are key elements that hold your organs in place. Sometimes the breakdown of muscles and tissue can create a weakened area and an organ will get pushed through that weak spot and protrude through to an area where it does not belong. This is called a hernia and they most often form in the region between the chest and the hips and can often be visible as a bulge or lump on the abdomen or groin.
Some hernias are located internally and will not be visibly noticeable from outside the body. These are called hiatal hernias and they may be accompanied by symptoms or may cause no symptoms at all.
What Types Of Hernias Can Occur?
The most common hernias that an individual may experience include:
- Inguinal – a hernia that forms on the inner groin;
- Femoral – a hernia that forms on the outer groin;
- Incisional – a hernia that forms in the area of a previous surgical incision;
- Umbilical – a hernia on or close to the belly button;
- Hiatal – internal hernias that form in the upper portion of the stomach. There are two types of hiatal hernias:
- Sliding Hernia – a sliding hiatal hernia occurs when some of the stomach and the point where the esophagus connects to the stomach slide and shift upward into the chest through the connection point of the diaphragm and the esophagus (the hiatus);
- Paraesophageal Hernia – a larger sliding hernia that involves a bigger portion of the stomach and sometimes other organs protruding through the hiatus.
What Is a Hiatal Hernia? IBI Healthcare Institute
What size hiatal hernia requires surgery? If type 2 or 3 hiatal hernias become symptomatic they usually require surgery..
What Symptoms Do Hiatal Hernias Cause?
Sliding hiatal hernias are fairly common and 1 out of 4 adults experience one by the time they are 40 years old. When one occurs, they can often cause chronic GERD.
Paraesophageal hernias are less common but they can be more concerning. In some patients, doctors can just keep an eye on the hernia and no medical action is taken. Other patients may experience symptoms and are at a higher risk of developing an incarceration situation. When this happens, a portion of the stomach that is protruding through the opening becomes stuck cutting off the stomach’s blood supply and resulting in the need for emergency surgery.
All hiatal hernias are associated with the development of gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms (GERD). Patients usually first try to make changes to their lifestyle such as not eating too late at night, sleeping propped up on pillows, taking medications that help reduce stomach acid, etc.
Overall, experts feel that symptomatic paraesophageal hernias should be repaired to alleviate the escalation of symptoms to emergency status.
Common Symptoms of a Paraesophageal Hernia
- 1. Chest pain
- There can be many causes for chest pain but patients that have a known paraesophageal hernia that is large should have a cardiac evaluation to ensure the pain is not related to their heart.
Many patients with a paraesophageal hernia have general pain after every meal and others experience pain intermittently.
Other symptoms occurring at mealtime may include:
- Abdominal pain (located in the upper or middle abdominal region);
- Difficulty with swallowing;
- When eating, the person becomes “full” abnormally quickly and remains feeling full for an abnormally long time.
- 2. Shortness of Breath
- The patient may easily become short of breath. Some very large paraesophageal hernias cause the stomach to push on the diaphragm or put pressure on the lungs causing the feeling of not being able to take a deep breath.
- 3. Stomach Ulcers
- Some patients may experience a rare occurrence of the stomach twisting upon itself and creating a stomach ulcer called Cameron’s erosion which can sometimes cause life-threatening bleeding.
This can facilitate gradual blood loss and result in a condition called anemia. Anemia occurs when your body is not able to produce enough healthy red blood cells to carry and supply oxygen to all the tissues and organs that need it. Anemia causes numerous symptoms such as extreme fatigue, weakness, dizziness, shortness of breath, chest pain, cold extremities, headaches, etc.
Many individuals with paraesophageal hernias also suffer from GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease).
Hiatal Hernia Classifications
Hiatal hernias can form in different sizes with a smaller hernia being about 2-3 cm in size, and a medium size hiatal hernia ranging from 4-5 cm. Once the hernia becomes 5 cm+ it is considered a large hernia.
The type of treatment required for a hiatal hernia depends upon how advanced the hernia is. Hiatal hernias are classified from 1 to 4 by how severe they protrude into the esophageal hiatus.
- Type 1 or sliding hiatal hernia is the most common type of hiatal hernia and is also one of the hardest to diagnose. Reflux is one of the earliest symptoms and may be the only indication of type 1 hiatal hernia.
- Type 2 – occurs when the top portion (fundus) of the stomach pushes through the esophageal hiatus but the connection point (GEJ) between the stomach and the esophagus remains below the diaphragm.
- Type 3 – once a hernia progresses into the type 2 category, the possibility of mechanical complications increases. Now that the esophageal hiatus has been compromised, the widening of the opening can become increasingly worse, and allow more of the stomach tissue to enter the hiatus. In a type 3 hernia, the GEJ shifts to a position above the diaphragm, and more of the stomach protrudes into the chest area.
- Type 4 – this type of hernia occurs when the stomach and other organs such as the pancreas, colon, spleen, etc, enter the chest cavity. This happens due to the stretched-out opening as well as a defect in the pharyngoesophageal membrane which is designed to hold the esophagus in place.
Types 2-4 are variations of paraesophageal hernias and represent between 5% and 15% of hiatal hernias.
How Are Hiatal Hernias Repaired?
The treatment of a hiatal hernia will vary according to the associated symptoms.
- Mild hiatal hernias (type 1) can usually be managed with reflux medication and do not require any special treatment.
- If type 2 or 3 hernias become symptomatic they usually require surgery.
- Type 4 hiatal hernias will require surgery.
Hernias are most often repaired laparoscopically and the overseeing doctor can help determine when and what type of surgery will benefit your condition.
1. Laparoscopic Repair
During laparoscopic hiatal hernia repair, about 5 very small incisions are created in the abdomen and used to manipulate the protruding portion of the stomach back to where it is supposed to be located.
The diaphragm (at the junction of the esophageal hiatus) is closed to prevent the stomach from slipping back through. In certain cases, the fundus (top portion of the stomach) is wrapped with a mesh-type material to ensure the diaphragm is appropriately closed so the stomach can not re-enter the chest cavity.
Most people who have laparoscopic hernia surgery are able to return home the same day as the procedure but a hospital stay may be required for those who undergo abdominal wall reconstruction or other more involved repairs.
2. Open Hernia Surgery
Sometimes patients are not eligible for laparoscopic surgery and require open hernia surgery. The surgeon creates a large incision in the abdomen and moves the stomach back to where it belongs and will also wrap the fundus with a special surgical mesh to prevent the stomach from moving again.
Sometimes a temporary tube is inserted to help keep the stomach in place during healing.
What Size Hiatal Hernia Needs Surgery?
If a hernia is small and is not causing any problems or pain, then surgery is not necessary YET. In most cases, hernias will eventually become larger and can lead to serious complications if they are not repaired.
Typically, hernias that are smaller than 5 cm (2 1/2 inches) can be self-managed through lifestyle choices and medication. Most problems patients experience are associated with large or moderate-size hiatal hernias.
A study was conducted that looked at 192 patients with both large and small hiatal hernias and reflux. The aim was to determine if the size of a hiatal hernia (large or small) played a role in the intensity of the reflux they experienced.
Researchers monitored the patient’s PH levels when they were lying down and sitting up. The hernias were considered small if they were in the range of 2 to 4 cm and large if they were 5 cm or larger.
The study concluded that the intensity and length that the patients experienced pain and symptoms of reflux were directly related to the size of their hiatal hernia. The longer and more frequently they experienced these symptoms, the more prevalent the esophageal erosion. The symptoms for patients with hiatal hernias that were 5 cm and over were twice that of patients with smaller hernias.
Can You Fix Any Hiatal Hernia Size At Home?
Hiatal hernias do not repair themselves but there are some things patients can do to minimize their symptoms. The smaller the hernia, the more chance you can manage the symptoms at home and possibly prevent the hernia from becoming so large it requires surgery. Symptoms can sometimes be managed through
- Medications – Over-the-counter remedies such as antacids can sometimes provide quick relief but these can cause kidney issues if used long-term. Medications that are H-2 receptor blockers such as Tagamet HB, and Pepcid AC, or medications that block the production of stomach acid such as Prevacid 24HR are called proton pump inhibitors and are stronger than H-2 receptor blockers. These medications may allow the esophagus time to heal.
- Exercise – maintaining a healthy weight and engaging in a consistent exercise routine.
- Lifestyle changes:
- Eating several small meals during the day instead of 1 or 2 large meals;
- Avoiding food that triggers reflux and heartburn like fried foods, acidic, and fatty foods;
- Avoid eating late in the day;
- Sleep in a reclined position;
- Stop smoking.
If you feel you may have a hiatal hernia, it is important to have it checked out by a qualified professional. Hernias will not repair themselves and will continue to worsen unless they are managed through lifestyle changes and/or surgical repair.
Contact IBI Healthcare Institute to set up a consultation today. The qualified professionals at IBI Healthcare Institute can perform hernia repair surgery and bring you relief from painful hernia symptoms.
