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Paraesophageal Hernia

Why Choose Florida Hospital?

A relatively uncommon condition, paraesophageal hiatal hernia accounts for a small percentage of hernia cases, but can create an emergency situation. Paraesophageal hiatal hernia occurs when the stomach pushes into the chest through the opening for the esophagus and can’t return back to the belly. When this causes painful symptoms, the patient must be treated to avoid complications. The symptoms of hiatal hernia often mimic those of other gastrointestinal conditions; so reliable screening at Florida Hospital is the best way to get the treatment needed. Schedule your screening today.

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Accounting for only five percent of hiatal hernias, the paraesophageal hiatal hernia is also the more serious of the two hiatal hernia types. Although many patients do not experience symptoms, it can cause complications and require surgery.

A hernia occurs when one part of the body pushes into another part of the body where it doesn’t belong. In this case, a hiatal hernia is when the stomach pushes through the hiatus, an opening in the diaphragm usually reserved for the esophagus. When the stomach pushes through the opening with the esophagus and slides back, it’s called a sliding hiatal hernia, but when it stays where it doesn’t belong, it’s called a paraesophageal hiatal hernia.

Usually patients do not feel symptoms of paraesophageal hernia until there is an issue. When the hiatus strangles the stomach, patients feel hiatal hernia pain.


Locations for Paraesophageal Hernia