Background: Hiatal hernia (HH) refers to the degeneration of the cruse muscle around the esophagus through the diaphragm, which causes the stomach or abdomi- nal organs to push into the thoracic cavity. It often causes poor appetite and weight loss in the elderly; severe cases even have life-threatening symptoms such as arrhythmia and respiratory distress.
Objective: To evaluate the types, clinical manifestations and prognosis of hiatal hernia after laparoscopy-assisted repair of hiatal.
Methods: A retrospective study was conducted from June 2009 to November 2019 through medical records to investigate the surgical results of hiatal hernia in a regional hospital of southern Taiwan.
Results: A total of 25 patients underwent surgical repair of hiatal hernia, of which 15 (60%) were classified as type III HH. The average hospital stay was 7.4 (±5.1) days. Preoperatively, gastroesophageal reflux symptoms were the most common in 17 patients (68%). Upon postoperative follow-up after more than three months, the symptoms including vomiting (p < .000), heartburn (p = .005), epigastric pain (p = .008), and gastroesophageal reflux (p < .000) were significantly improved.
Conclusion: Laparoscopy-assisted laparotomy to perform repair of hiatal hernia can shorten postoperative hospitalization. In a 3-month follow-up period, the patients’quality of life was greatly improved, and there was no recurrence of hiatal hernia within three months after surgery.