Large Hiatal Hernia Compressing the Heart

Optimizing outcomes in paraesophageal hernia repair: a novel critical view

BACKGROUND

The recurrence rate of paraesophageal hernia repair (PEHR) is high with reported rates of recurrence varying between 25 and 42%. We present a novel approach to PEHR that involves the visualization of a critical view to decrease recurrence rate. Our study aims to investigate the outcomes of PEHR following the implementation of a critical view.

METHODS

This is a single-center retrospective study that examines operative outcomes in patients who underwent PEHR with a critical view in comparison to patients who underwent standard repair. The critical view is defined as full dissection of the posterior mediastinum with complete mobilization of the esophagus to the level of the inferior pulmonary vein, visualization of the left crus of the diaphragm as well as the left gastric artery while the distal esophagus is retracted to expose the spleen in the background. Bivariate chi-squared analysis and multivariable logistic and linear regressions were used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 297 patients underwent PEHR between 2015 and 2023, including 207 with critical view and 90 with standard repair which represents the historic control. Type III hernias were most common (48%) followed by type I (36%), type IV (13%), and type II (2.0%). Robotic-assisted repair was most common (65%), followed by laparoscopic (22%) and open repair (14%). Fundoplications performed included Dor (59%), Nissen (14%), Belsey (5%), and Toupet (2%). Patients who underwent PEHR with critical view had lower hernia recurrence rates compared to standard (9.7% vs 20%, P < .01) and lower reoperation rates (0.5% vs 10%, P < .001). There were no differences in postoperative complications on unadjusted bivariate analysis; however, adjusted outcomes revealed a lower odds of postoperative complications in patients with critical view (AOR .13, 95% CI .05-.31, P < .001).

CONCLUSION

We present dissection of a novel critical view during repair of all types of paraesophageal hernia that results in reproducible, consistent, and durable postoperative outcomes, including a significant reduction in recurrence and reoperation.

Evaluation of robot-assisted laparoscopic versus conventional laparoscopic hiatal hernia repair in children

Laparoscopic approach is the gold standard for repairing hiatal hernia (HH). Robotic technology is now widely accepted, but it is rarely used in children with HH. Our aim was to evaluate the clinical effect of robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery (RALS) and conventional laparoscopic surgery (CLS) in the treatment of HH in children. A retrospective study was carried out in patients undergoing elective robot-assisted laparoscopic or conventional laparoscopic HH repair at a tertiary academic hospital from January 2020 to December 2022, and patients who met the inclusion criteria were included in this study. We compared the characteristics and clinical results of patients to understand the effects of the two surgical methods. Forty-six patients (CLS, group 1, n = 25; RALS, group 2, n = 21) met the inclusion criteria. All operations were performed by one experienced pediatric surgeon. In this study, no significant differences were found in terms of gender, age, weight, size of HH, total operation times, the effective operation time (excluding setup time) and complications between group 1 and group 2. (P = 0.979, P = 0.438, P = 0.265, P = 0.800, P = 0.122, P = 0.427 and P = 0.478, respectively). However, the intraoperative bleeding, the intensive care unit (ICU) admission, postoperative hospital length of stay (LOS) and postoperative fasting time were significantly less for RALS (P = 0.016, P = 0.040, P = 0.035 and P = 0.025, respectively). Meanwhile, the overall charges were significantly higher in group 2 (P < 0.01). Despite higher charges for robotic-assisted HH repair, it is a safe and reliable alternative to CLS and was associated with better outcomes in children.

Paraesophageal hernia repair can decrease BNP levels

BACKGROUND

Although the main manifestation of giant paraesophageal hernia (PEH) is disordered meal passage due to gastric torsion, the contents of the hernia sometimes squeeze the heart and lungs and induce the symptoms of respiratory or heart failure. Furthermore, the quality of life (QOL) of patients with a heavy cardiac load deteriorates. In this study, changes in a heart failure marker and symptoms of cases with a giant PEH from before to after laparoscopic surgery were examined.

METHODS

Levels of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) as a heart failure marker were measured before and after radical laparoscopic surgery in cases of type III, IV type of giant PEH. Changes of the symptoms due to heart failure were also investigated.

RESULTS

A total of 75 hiatal hernia surgeries were performed in 2012-2019. Of them, 50 had a giant PEH, and 20 (40.0%) had heart failure symptoms such as fatigue and exertional dyspnea. In the giant PEH cases, BNP could be measured before and after surgery to evaluate the presence of heart failure in 23 cases; postoperative BNP levels decreased from the preoperative values in 18 of them. Furthermore, in many cases, chest symptoms also improved.

CONCLUSIONS

Radical laparoscopic surgery can reduce heart failure due to giant PEH. Therefore, in addition to conventional surgical indication criteria such as vomiting and food loss, increased cardiac load may be added to the new surgical indication criteria.

[A rare cause of type 2 non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction: Cardiac compression and left ventricular obstruction by a giant hiatal hernia]

We report the case of a 89 year-old woman admitted to the emergency department for epigastric pain, nausea, vomiting. Because of a circulatory failure with electrocardiographic ST changes and a slight elevation of ultra-sensible troponin, a coronary angiography was performed and found normal coronary arteries. Thoraco-abdominal CT scan revealed a large hiatal hernia causing a cardiac compression, and a left intraventricular obstruction showed by Doppler echocardiography. All signs resolved after fasting and gastric drainage.