Hiatal Hernia Repairs & Anti-Reflux Surgery

Suburban Surgical Associates/Suburban Metabolic Institute

General Surgeons located in Berwyn, IL, Elmhurst, IL & La Grange, IL

What causes a hernia?

You develop a hernia when an internal organ or other structures protrude through a weak point or opening in muscle, usually the abdominal wall musculature.
Many people believe that heavy lifting, frequent coughing, and straining when you’re constipated are common causes of hernias. However, it’s also critical to realize that smoking, obesity, and diabetes are among the most common contributing factors to hernias.
Addressing these issues can drastically reduce your risks of having complications of surgery or developing hernias again in the future.

Hiatal hernias

These hernias occur internally, against your diaphragm. A hiatal hernia occurs when the stomach pushes through the diaphragm, causing the stomach to start to slide up into the chest. This can cause acid reflux symptoms or heartburn, trouble swallowing, pain, or in some cases, strangulation of the stomach.

What symptoms are caused by hernias?

When a hernia pushes through abdominal muscles, you’ll see a noticeable lump. You may also feel a pain that worsens when activity places pressure on the hernia site. Since hiatal hernias occur inside your abdomen and affect your stomach, they may cause heartburn, indigestion, and chest pain.

How are hernias treated?

Hernias never heal on their own. Over time, they become larger and more painful. They can also get strangulated when the muscle squeezes tightly enough to cut off their blood supply. Your only treatment option is a surgical repair.
The physicians at Suburban Surgical Associates perform minimally-invasive hernia repair and conventional open surgeries, depending on the type of hernia and your overall health. Inguinal hernias are often treated using laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair, a minimally-invasive procedure that produces less pain, minimal scarring, and quicker recovery.
During a hernia repair, your physician places the protruding tissue back into its proper place. A hernia mesh may be implanted over the area to provide extra support; then the muscle is stitched back together.


What Exactly Is Acid Reflux?

The stomach contains a powerful acid that’s intended to break down the food that travels to the stomach. It’s a necessary component for digestion.
There is a muscle called the lower esophageal sphincter or LES, which sits between the stomach and the esophagus. Its purpose is to keep the acid in the stomach where it belongs.
For some people, though, this muscle does not work. It doesn’t close properly, which allows the stomach acid to travel up the esophagus. As it is so powerful, it easily burns the lining, causing a great deal of discomfort. This is referred to as acid reflux or GERD.
GERD can be caused by a variety of things, including being overweight, as the added pressure can prevent the LES from closing. Some foods, excessive alcohol intake, and smoking may also be the culprit.

Antireflux Surgery

Most people that live with acid reflux work with their doctor to manage the symptoms with medications and lifestyle changes. For example, diet and exercise can help take the pressure off of the LES and may help prevent irritation.
At times, though, medications and behavioral changes may not provide relief. Also, many people don’t want to live on medication for the rest of their lives. In these cases, surgery is available for a more comprehensive and permanent solution.
Acid reflux surgery comes in three forms:

  • The most common type is fundoplication. This involves reconstructing the LES so that it can close as it should.
  • The second surgery involves the use of a LINX Reflux Management System. This is a small ring that can act as the LES to keep stomach acid down.
  • Last is gastric bypass surgery. It's a more common choice for those with a higher body mass index and who have additional conditions, such as diabetes, arthritis, and hypertension.

After surgery, most patients are released within one to six days, depending on the type of surgery. It typically takes a month to six weeks to be able to fully resume activities.
Antireflux surgery in La Grange, IL, Elmhurst, IL, and Berwyn, IL, could be the answer for many people. However, it’s important to understand that results vary, and it’s not the best treatment for everyone.


What to Know About Robotic Hernia Surgery

General Information

A hernia is an issue that occurs when an organ pushes through your muscle or other tissue. Depending on the location, it can cause various unpleasant symptoms in more serious cases, such as nausea, vomiting, heartburn, constipation, indigestion, or severe pain.
During the surgery, one of our La Grange, Elmhurst, and Berwyn, IL, practitioners will operate and place the organ in its proper position. Then, either stitches or mesh will stabilize the area.

How Robotic Hernia Surgery Works

Most of the time, robotic hernia surgery is done under a local anesthetic along with sedation. However, sometimes, a practitioner may recommend you have a general if it's a more serious repair.
A standard hernia surgery would require a larger incision. With this procedure, it's laparoscopic. Therefore, for this procedure, tiny incisions are made where the equipment is placed. One piece of equipment is a camera. The inside of the abdomen will then appear on a monitor. The surgeon remains behind the instrument console and guides the robotic arm to repair the hernia.

Recovery

Most patients can go home immediately following their procedure because most hernia repairs are done on an outpatient basis. You, however, will have to remain at the facility for monitoring. This ensures you're coming out of the anesthesia well.
You'll need to take it easy the first two to four weeks and avoid any strenuous physical activity that could stress the area. However, most people can return to work after about four days, especially if they have an office job. If you have a job that requires manual labor, you may have to alter your duties a bit.
Because the incisions are smaller than a traditional hernia repair, they heal more quickly. Generally, the stitches used to close the openings are dissolvable, so you won't have to return to have them removed. You, however, will need to return for a follow-up appointment.
Typically, with robotic hernia surgery provided by a practitioner, you'll have less pain after the procedure. At all of our offices in La Grange, Elmhurst, and Berwyn, IL, you'll receive the benefit of having the procedure conducted by a skilled practitioner.

The specialists at Suburban Surgical Associates/Suburban Metabolic Institute can help you determine if surgery is the right treatment for you. Schedule a consultation to discuss hernia & antireflux surgery in La Grange, IL, Elmhurst, IL, and Berwyn, IL by calling (708) 484-0621 today.