Laparoscopic hiatal hernia surgery: duration, cost and step by step

• Hiatal hernia occurs when part of the stomach protrudes through the diaphragm into the chest. One of its associated complications is gastro-oesophageal reflux (GOR).
• Laparoscopic hiatal hernia surgery is a minimally invasive technique to treat cases where gastro-oesophageal reflux is a serious condition.
• Laparoscopic hiatal hernia surgery and recovery after surgery is much faster than with more traditional techniques, such as open surgery.

Before explaining what a hiatal hernia is, it is important to know what the hiatus is and where it is located. The oesophageal hiatus is the hole through which the oesophagus crosses the diaphragm and passes from the thoracic portion to the abdominal portion, where it will reach the stomach and enter the gastric cardia, that is, the part of the stomach attached to the oesophagus. 

It is part of the anatomical barrier that separates the oesophagus from the stomach.

Do you have a hiatal hernia and need surgery?

Request a free and immediate surgical consultation with our specialist in General Surgery.

Make an appointment

A hiatal hernia occurs when the upper part of the stomach moves from being in the abdomen to being in the chest, through the diaphragmatic hiatus. In this case, the barrier is not effective and gastric contents can easily pass into the oesophagus.

Hiatal hernia depends on the existence of associated complications. In many cases, it is a matter of making a change in lifestyle habits, such as taking postural measures or treatment with drugs for a period of time. However, when there is a risk factor that aggravates the situation, surgery is the best option.

Gastro-oesophageal reflux (GOR) is one of the main causes of hiatal hernia surgery.

Around 20% of the population suffers from hiatal hernia, although most people have no symptoms. Those who do show symptoms often have heartburn, difficulty swallowing or chest pain, but why is a hiatal hernia so bothersome?

As we said, gastro-oesophageal reflux is one of the associated complications. When the stomach passes through the hiatus, it is possible for stomach contents to back up into the oesophagus, known as gastro-oesophageal reflux. Because the oesophagus is not protected, as the stomach is to withstand the acids of digestion, the oesophagus becomes irritated and gives rise to the aforementioned symptoms.

If gastro-oesophageal reflux (GOR) is left untreated, it can become a chronic condition and lead to very serious problems. In these cases, hiatal hernia surgery is the recommended option.

Laparoscopic hiatal hernia surgery is a minimally invasive technique to treat cases where gastro-oesophageal reflux (GOR) is a serious condition for the patient with hiatal hernia. However, the first option will be to check the severity and, in milder cases, attempts will be made to control the symptoms.

In cases where medical treatment has no effect, hiatal hernia surgery is the best option.

In short, surgery to repair hiatal hernia may involve pushing the stomach down and reducing the size of the diaphragmatic opening. Thus, either the oesophageal sphincter is reconstructed, or the hernia sac is removed.

In order to perform laparoscopic hiatal hernia surgery, a series of preoperative tests must be performed to ensure that there are no risks involved. After completing this stage, the anaesthesiologist will analyse the results and the patient's suitability for the laparoscopic hiatal hernia operation will be determined.

Thus, laparoscopic hiatal hernia surgery follows the following step-by-step procedure:

• After disinfecting the abdominal area and making 3 to 5 mini incisions, a harmless gas is introduced into the abdominal cavity to improve visibility.
• The laparoscope is then inserted through one of the incisions. This instrument allows the surgeon to view the inside of the body on a monitor and perform the surgery without making a large incision.

Once inside with the surgical tools, the hiatal hernia repair will begin:

• The opening of the diaphragm is sutured, so that the stomach does not move upwards. In cases where there is gastric reflux, an anti-reflux technique is performed to prevent it from occurring.
• At the end, the surgeon checks that no adjacent structures have been damaged, and finally, he will remove the harmless gas and all the tools from the patient's abdomen.

At the end of the laparoscopic hiatal hernia surgery, the patient will be transferred to the recovery room to recover from the anaesthesia. Once all the anaesthetic medication has been removed, the patient will be taken to their room where they will remain until they are discharged.

Open hiatal hernia surgery involves a surgical time of 2 - 3 hours. However, as with most operations performed with minimally invasive techniques, the surgical time is significantly reduced.

Laparoscopic hiatal hernia surgery usually takes 1 to 2 hours.

However, in both cases, the duration may vary depending on the patient's condition.

Normally, the patient will be hospitalised overnight, unlike other techniques that require a longer hospital stay. One of the advantages of laparoscopic surgery is the reduction of bleeding and the small incision.

If you have any questions about the operation or the postoperative characteristics of hiatal hernia surgery, the best thing to do is to have a consultation with the specialist doctor so that all your doubts can be resolved. 

We remind you that Operarme offers you a free surgical assessment consultation. If you want to book your appointment, click on the following image:

Do you have a hiatal hernia and need surgery?

Request a free and immediate surgical consultation with our specialist in General Surgery.

Make an appointment

Recovery after hiatal hernia surgery will depend largely on the type of technique used. In conventional surgery, recovery may take between 1 month and 1.5 months.

Recovery from laparoscopic hiatal hernia surgery will be 2-3 weeks, faster than with conventional techniques.

Even so, the patient must follow a series of medical indications for post-operative care. During the first 2 weeks, the patient will have to follow a liquid-based diet to promote the transit of food, as the stomach will be swollen.

Progressively include soft, easy-to-swallow foods until after 2 - 3 weeks where recovery is complete.

Operarme’s price for hiatal hernia surgery by laparoscopy is 6.390 €. As with all our surgeries, this is a fixed price and includes everything you need.

The following items are included in the cost of the hiatal hernia operation by laparoscopy:

• Booking and operating theatre expenses
• Hospital stay
• Medical fees
• Anaesthesiologist fees
• Nursing fees
• Medical gases
• Laparoscopic surgical material
• Pre-operative
• Check-up visit
• Medical complications insurance. In cases where the patient requires a longer hospital stay, this will be included at no additional cost.

In addition, Operarme offers you a free transfer service so that you don't have to worry about taking the car, both on the day of admission and on the day of discharge.

Operarme offers you a free surgical assessment consultation with a specialist to check the need for surgery in your case of hiatal hernia. It is important that in this first consultation you bring all the tests that you have undergone, so that the doctor can make a more accurate surgical diagnosis.

As a point of clarification, you should know that this consultation is not for the purpose of making a diagnosis to determine the existence of hiatal hernia or gastro-oesophageal reflux. At the consultation, the doctor will analyse all the evidence you provide and confirm that your case requires surgery.

If you would like to book your surgical assessment consultation or find out about the services offered by Operarme for hiatal hernia surgery by laparoscopy, you can contact us on +34 91 141 33 56, or by clicking on the image below:

Do you have a hiatal hernia and need surgery?

Request a free and immediate surgical consultation with our specialist in General Surgery.

Make an appointment