Patients with a painful hernia affecting the stomach will soon receive a groundbreaking procedure that eliminates the condition with little or no long-term side effects.
Every year, thousands of people develop this problem, which occurs when part of the stomach pushes through the diaphragm into the chest, causing uncomfortable heartburn and bloating.
Men over 50, also known as a hiatal hernia, are at greatest risk and are traditionally treated with invasive surgery involving multiple incisions in the chest. Treatment can also cause lifelong side effects such as difficulty swallowing and internal bleeding.
However, the new 60-minute operation, which was carried out for the first time on the NHS earlier this month, only requires a single small incision – no bigger than a centimeter – in the chest.
The hernia is pushed out of the chest with a surgical device and the top of the diaphragm is fixed with stitches to prevent the stomach from rising again.
Doctors still don’t know what causes these types of hernias, but most believe they occur when the diaphragm, the muscle that sits below the lungs, weakens. This allows the stomach to rise into the esophagus – the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach
Thousands of people develop a hernia each year, which occurs when part of the stomach pushes through the diaphragm into the chest, causing uncomfortable heartburn and bloating.
A robotic surgical instrument is then passed through the mouth into the stomach, also using sutures to collapse the tissue on top of the stomach and hold it in place.
Experts claim that patients who have struggled with heartburn for decades have seen their symptoms subside after just a few weeks.
READ MORE: Do I need hernia surgery if I have no pain?
“This is a game changer in the treatment of gastric hernias,” says Dr. Rehan Haidry, a gastroenterologist at University College London Hospital and the first doctor in Britain to perform the operation. “It is less drastic than the current operation. “It will be the best NHS treatment for this unpleasant condition.”
Doctors still don’t know what causes these types of hernias, but most believe they occur when the diaphragm, the muscle that sits below the lungs, weakens. This allows the stomach to rise into the esophagus – the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach.
People who are overweight or pregnant are also at risk of developing a hiatal hernia.
It is estimated to affect about a third of people over 50, as it often goes unnoticed as only a small part of the stomach rises and causes no noticeable problems. However, if a large part of the stomach becomes trapped in the chest area, it can cause debilitating symptoms.
These include painful heartburn or acid reflux, in which small amounts of food or stomach acid flow back into the esophagus. Patients also report bad breath, flatulence and difficulty swallowing.
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), the medicines commonly prescribed to treat heartburn, are meant to prevent the stomach from producing too much acid, but they can be ineffective.
“It’s a problem that can affect your whole life,” says Dr. Haidry. “Many people even report feeling the rupture in their chest, which they compare to a tennis ball being stuck under their ribs.”
Unlike invasive traditional surgery for hiatal hernias, the new procedure requires only one incision to fix the diaphragm with stitches.
Once the operation is complete, a surgical suture tool called an EsophyX is passed down the throat until it reaches the top of the stomach. The upper end of the stomach is twisted into a loose knot and then stapled. It narrows the opening between your stomach and esophagus, which prevents acid from rising and causing heartburn.
This was previously done by making another cut in the chest, through which several organs had to be removed, which carried the risk of internal bleeding.
Research shows that the procedure, which is already routinely performed in the United States, has few side effects.
“Compared to current NHS treatment, it is minimally invasive, meaning patients can get back on their feet and eat normally much more quickly,” says Dr. Haidry. “And they are much less likely to have difficulty swallowing or belching.”
He adds: “One of my most recent patients was a Londoner in his forties who had been living with a herniated stomach for almost twenty years.” Despite his medication, he suffered terrible heartburn every day.
“The procedure took less than an hour and we were able to discharge him the next morning with nothing but a centimeter-long scar on his chest.
“He is doing very well. “He has much less acid reflux than before and it will only get better with time.”
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
