Digestive Health Heartburn Hiatal Hernia Paraesophageal Hiatal Hernia Complications By Sharon Gillson Sharon Gillson is a writer living with and covering GERD and other digestive issues. Learn about our editorial process Sharon Gillson Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Robert Burakoff, MD, MPH on May 04, 2020 linkedin Robert Burakoff, MD, MPH, is board-certified in gastroentrology. He is the vice chair for ambulatory services for the department of medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York, where he is also a professor. He was the founding editor and co-editor in chief of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. Learn about our Medical Review Board Robert Burakoff, MD, MPH on May 04, 2020 Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Overview Symptoms Complications Surgery A paraesophageal hernia is the less common of the two types of hiatal hernia. It occurs when the upper part of the stomach pushes through an opening in the diaphragm and up into the chest. Learn about this condition and its causes, symptoms, and treatment. Overview A hernia means that an internal body part has been pushed into an area where it doesn't belong. Your torso is divided into the chest cavity where the lungs and heart are located and the abdomen where your stomach, intestines, and several other organs are located. The chest cavity and abdomen are separated by a sheet of muscle, the diaphragm. The esophagus is the tube through which food and drink pass from the mouth to the stomach, and it travels through an opening in the diaphragm, the hiatus. Hence the name hiatal hernia. The esophagus shortens and lengthens during swallowing, and with a hernia, the stomach and/or the junction of the stomach and esophagus can get pulled through the hiatus. There are two types of hiatal hernias: A sliding hernia (way more common)A paraesophageal hernia (not very common) With paraesophageal hernias, the gastroesophageal junction (where the esophagus attaches to the stomach) remains where it belongs, but part of the stomach is squeezed up into the chest beside the esophagus. The portion of the stomach that is on the wrong side of the hiatus remain in the chest at all times. With this type of hernia, complications can occur. Verywell / Laura Porter Symptoms Paraesophageal hernias often do not display any symptoms, but when symptoms are present, they are as follows: Sudden severe chest painRadiating chest pain that isn't relieved by taking an antacidDifficulty swallowingStomach painIndigestionNauseaVomitingRetching Complications Incarceration: This is when a stomach is stuck and being squeezed or constricted. It can lead to strangulation.Strangulation: This results from the blood supply to the stomach getting cut off. The tissues of the stomach can't live without a blood supply and so they die. Bleeding: Erosions and ulcers called Cameron lesions may develop. As with other ulcers, these can lead to slow blood loss and anemia.Gastric volvulus: This refers to the twisting of the stomach, which can cause problems swallowing, the pain just below the ribs, and retching.Breathing Problems: A large hernia may squeeze the lungs. Surgery Surgery is needed in any person who has symptoms from their paraesophageal hernia. Emergency surgery is needed for complications such as bleeding that cannot be stopped, breathing problems, stomach twisting, incarceration, or strangulation. Hiatal hernia surgery is commonly done as a laparoscopic procedure. The laparoscope is a thin, telescope-like instrument with a camera on the end that enables the surgeon to view the inside of the abdomen. With this type of surgery, small incisions are made in the abdomen. The laparoscope and surgical instruments are inserted through these incisions. During the surgery, the stomach is repositioned (pulled down) and the hiatus (the hole in the diaphragm) is reinforced so that the stomach does not move back up again. Hiatal Hernia Doctor Discussion Guide Get our printable guide for your next doctor's appointment to help you ask the right questions. Download PDF Email the Guide Send to yourself or a loved one. Sign Up This Doctor Discussion Guide has been sent to {{form.email}}. There was an error. Please try again. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Get nutrition tips and advice to make healthy eating easier. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Medical College of Wisconsin, "Paraesophageal Hernia (Hiatal Hernia)" Chang CC, Tseng CL, Chang YC. A surgical emergency due to an incarcerated paraesophageal hernia. Am J Emerg Med. 2009;27(1):134.e1-134.e3. DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2008.05.009 Yang X, Hua R, He K, Shen Q, Yao Q. Laparoscopic hernioplasty of hiatal hernia. Ann Transl Med. 2016;4(18):343. doi: 10.21037/atm.2016.09.03