Hiatus Hernia

Understanding the upper gut

The gut or 'gastrointestinal tract' is the tube that starts at the mouth, and ends at the anus.

The upper gut includes the oesophagus (gullet), stomach, and duodenum. Food passes down the oesophagus into the stomach. The stomach makes acid which is not essential, but helps to digest food. After being mixed in the stomach, food passes into the duodenum (the first part of the small intestine) to be digested.

What is a hernia and what is a hiatus hernia?

• A hernia is when part of an organ protrudes (pushes) through a muscular wall that holds it in place. There are different types of hernia. For example, an inguinal hernia is the most common type when part of the lower bowel protrudes through the muscle in the groin.
• A hiatus hernia is when part of the stomach protrudes through the diaphragm.

Types of hiatus hernia

• Sliding hiatus hernia is the most common type. In this situation the sphincter at the bottom of the oesophagus and the top of the stomach protrudes through the hole (hiatus) in the diaphragm. The hernia may slide up and down, in and out of the lower chest. It is often quite small.
• Rolling hiatus hernia is less common. In this situation, part of the stomach protrudes up through the hole in the diaphragm next to the oesophagus.

What causes hiatus hernia and how common is it?

The exact number of people with a hiatus hernia is not known as many people with a hiatus hernia do not have symptoms. However, they are thought to be common. Some studies suggest that up to a third of people develop a hiatus hernia sometime in their life, most commonly in middle age. Many are small.

The cause of hiatus hernia is not clear. It is thought that most develop in people over the age of 50. It may be that the diaphragm weakens with age and allows part of the stomach to protrude through the hole in the diaphragm. Factors which increase the pressure in the abdomen such as regular coughing, weight lifting, or obesity may increase the risk of developing a hiatus hernia.

(There is a rare type of hiatus hernia which occurs in newborn babies due to a congenital defect of the stomach or diaphragm. This is not dealt with further in this leaflet.)

What are the symptoms of hiatus hernia?

Often there are none

Many people with a hiatus hernia have no symptoms.

Acid reflux symptoms

The hernia itself does not cause symptoms. However, if you have a hiatus hernia, the factors that normally prevent stomach acid from refluxing into the oesophagus may not work so well. The sphincter may not work properly, and the normal pressure of the diaphragm on the oesophagus is lost. Therefore, you are more prone for acid in the stomach to reflux (regurgitate) into your oesophagus. The refluxed acid can cause inflammation of the lower part of the oesophagus which can cause one or more of the following symptoms:

• Heartburn is the main symptom. This is a burning feeling which rises from the upper abdomen or lower chest up towards the neck. (It is confusing as it has nothing to do with the heart!)
• Other common symptoms include: pain in the upper abdomen and chest, feeling sick, an acid taste in the mouth, bloating, belching, and a burning pain when you swallow hot drinks. Like heartburn, these symptoms tend to come and go, and tend to be worse after a meal.
• Some uncommon symptoms may occur. If any of these symptoms occur it can make the diagnosis difficult as these symptoms can mimic other conditions. For example:
  • A persistent cough, particularly at night, sometimes occurs. This is due to the refluxed acid irritating the trachea (windpipe). Asthma symptoms of cough and wheeze can sometimes be due to acid reflux.
  • Other mouth and throat symptoms sometimes occur such as gum problems, bad breath, sore throat, hoarseness, and a feeling of a lump in the throat.
  • Severe chest pain develops in some cases (and may be mistaken for a heart attack).

Note: most people with acid reflux do not have a hiatus hernia. Also, most people with a hiatus hernia do not have symptoms of acid reflux. (If you have a hiatus hernia it does not necessarily mean that the sphincter between the oesophagus and stomach does not work so well. It is just that having a hiatus hernia makes you more prone to have a poorly functioning sphincter and more prone to develop acid reflux symptoms.)

However, people with a hiatus hernia who do get reflux, on average, tend to get more severe symptoms and problems associated with acid reflux. This may be because with a hiatus hernia, any acid that gets into the oesophagus is more likely to remain in contact with the lining of the oesophagus for longer compared to people without a hiatus hernia.

See separate leaflet called 'Acid Reflux and Oesophagitis' for more details.

How is a hiatus hernia diagnosed?

A hiatus hernia may be diagnosed if you have tests for symptoms of reflux. Endoscopy is the common test. This is where a thin, flexible telescope is passed down the oesophagus into the stomach. This allows a doctor or nurse to look inside. A hiatus hernia may be seen. A special X-ray test called a barium swallow is another more accurate way to confirm the presence of a hiatus hernia.

What is the treatment of hiatus hernia?

• If you have no symptoms, you do not need any treatment. The hiatus hernia itself causes no harm.
• If you have reflux symptoms, then treatment is the same as for any other cause of reflux symptoms. Treatment includes: lifestyle factors such as losing weight if you are overweight, antacids and acid-suppressing drugs. See the leaflet called 'Acid Reflux and Oesophagitis' for details of treatment.
• Rarely, a hiatus hernia causes severe symptoms of reflux which are not helped so well with medication. Therefore, an operation is occasionally advised. During this operation the stomach is put back into the correct position, and the weakened diaphragm around the lower oesophagus is tightened.

What are the possible complications of a hiatus hernia?

Possible complications may occur if you have long-term reflux of acid into the oesophagus which occurs in some cases. These include:

• Stricture. If you have severe and long-standing inflammation it can cause scarring and narrowing (a stricture) of the lower oesophagus. This is uncommon.
• Barrett's oesophagus. In this condition the cells that line the lower oesophagus change. The changed cells are more prone than usual to become cancerous. (About 1 or 2 people in 100 with Barrett's oesophagus develop cancer of the oesophagus.)
• Cancer. Your risk of developing cancer of the oesophagus is slightly increased compared to the normal risk if you have long-term acid reflux. This small increased risk is slightly higher still in people with reflux plus a hiatus hernia. This is because reflux problems, on average, tend to be more severe in people with a hiatus hernia compared to those without a hiatus hernia.

But note: it has to be stressed that most people with reflux or hiatus hernia do not develop any of these complications. They are uncommon. Tell your doctor if you have pain or difficulty (food 'sticking') when you swallow which may be the first symptom of a complication.