Hiatal hernia

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Overview	Symptoms	Treatment	Prevention

Hiatal hernia

Alternative Names

Hernia - hiatal

Symptoms

Belching
Chest pain
Heartburn, worse when bending over or lying down
Swallowing difficulty

A hiatal hernia by itself rarely causes symptoms -- pain and discomfort are usually due to the reflux of gastric acid, air, or bile. Reflux happens more easily when there is a hiatal hernia, though a hiatal hernia is not the only cause of reflux.

Exams and Tests

Barium swallow x-ray
Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD)

References

Goldman L, Ausiello D.Cecil Textbook of Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier: 2007.


Hiatal hernia - X-ray


Hiatal hernia


Hiatal hernia repair - series

Review Date: 3/8/2008
Reviewed By: Christian Stone, MD, Division of Gastroenterology, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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