Hi,

The GI doc is seriously thinking about doing surgery to repair Kaden's hiatal hernia. We'll know more after his scope and pH test.

If you've gone through this surgery, please share your experience.

Thanks so much!

Does that mean they would do a fundo as well? I didnt think any surgeon in the US would do a hiatal hernia surgery without also doing a fundoplication.

My daughter had two of both and is doing okay. This is a big surgery and should only be done when CLEARLY necessary. How old is she? What problems is she experiencing as a result of the reflux and hernia? What meds is she on? They dont always have to fix the hernia--it depends on the size. Sometimes they are so large that it is necessary. How big is her hernia?

The only experience I have it with my Mother who has a hiatal hernia. She did not have surgery for it but it causes havoc for her.

I defer to the experts here as I have no advice to give since I have no children with it. I did not know that a fundo would be a given with it though.

I should move this into the fundo section for others who have experience to pipe in.

Wishing you the very best and please do give the details Carla asked for so that others may give you some help. I offer up {{{hugs}}}

Carla

Thanks for your imput! There's no talk of a fundo, just the hernia repair. The hernia is not that big from what I'm told. Kaden is a boy and is 20 mo. old. (my grandson) He's had reflux and dysphagia since birth. He's now on Prevacid twice a day and beginning Reglan on Monday. I've shared this site with my son and they may be logging on with more detailed questions. Her name is Shannon.

We will definately look forward to hearing from Shannon as well. How absolutely wonderful that his Grandma is busy searching for information and so very involved with his reflux and issues. Many of us on the board wish that our families would be more involved.

I am surprised that the doc mentioned a hernia repair without a fundo. The surgeons we interviewed would not repair a hiatal hernia unless it was causing significant problems--the only significant problem it causes is an increase in reflux. If the reflux is significant enough to repair the hernia, they also do a fundo to correct the reflux. Repairing the hernia alone will not do away with the reflux.

If the hernia is small, it does not need to be corrected--please know that! Some docs will suggest hernia repairs together with a fundo in order to "fix" the problem because they are doctors and want to fix things. Know that this surgery is not a quick fix and is not a cure. Even if they only repaired the hiatal hernia--which again I have never heard of a surgeon in the US repairing only a hiatal hernia--they can re-herniate it again and again.

In my opinion it is best to leave it alone unless the reflux is so unmanageable that they become failure to thrive, have severe repeated respiratory distress problems, or esophagitis when on the maximum amount of acid blocking meds. Often times the surgery is trading one set of problems for another, so it is only worth it when the new set of problems are better than the old ones!

Just wanted to pipe in here and say, Yes I have heard of the hernia repair without fundo. It really can be a good way to go if the surgeon and the Dr. agree. I have a little boy with a fundo, but I also have a 10year old daughter with a massaive hiatal hernia which is just now starting to really give her problems and she will be having only the hernia repaired with mesh reinforcement and no fundoplication (surgery to decrease reflux)
Here's a good description of the 2 DIFFERENT procedures;
Definition:

Hiatal Hernia Repair -
This procedure corrects a defect in the diaphragm (breathing muscle), which separates the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity. A hiatal hernia occurs when the normal opening in the diphragm is too large. If the defect is not repaired, the stomach or other abdominal contents may bulge (herniate) into the chest, causing heartburn (gastroesophageal reflux) and serious damage to the esophagus.

Description:
When the opening (hiatus) in the diaphragm is too large, part of the stomach can slip up into the chest cavity. Gastric acid backflows from the stomach into the esophagus, which can cause gastroesophageal reflux (GER). Over many years GER can damage the lining of the esophagus and in some cases may lead to cancer of the esophagus.

For an open hiatal hernia repair, an incision is made in the abdomen while the patient is under general anesthesia. The stomach and lower esophagus are placed back into the abdominal cavity. The hiatus is tightened and the stomach is stitched in position within the abdominal cavity. "The upper part of the stomach (fundus) may be wrapped around the esophagus (fundoplication) to reduce reflux." Sometimes the surgeon will place a temporary tube from the stomach through the abdominal wall to keep the stomach in place.

I am sure what decision your family has to make will have the best outcome for your grandchild. It sounds like your son & daughter-in-law a very lucky to have an informed grandma like you around.

Hello, no experience with that surgery, we had the fundo. But just wanted to give (((hugs))) and support. Please keep us updated!

We've had 2 fundos and are probably due for #3 this year. Long story. My son the first time around had a severe hiatal hernia and we were never even told as an option that we could repair it w/o a fundo! Hmmm.

Thanks for the descriptions of the surgeries!

I'm probably not the person you want to hear from on this, but my daughter had both the hernia repair and the fundo last year. It was a terrible experience that we are still paying for. She has horrible retching spells and the fundo came undoe withing 6 weeks, making the hernia worse than before. Everyone has to make their own decisions, but it would take a LOT and I mean a heck of a lot for me to put her through that again.

our new GI thinks that a lot of hiatul hernias repair themselves after the child is older. I don't know your situation, but I had to tell you of my experience.

Good luck!

I know nothing of this, but wanted to say From one grandma to the other, your awsome! If I had not found this site I don't know what it would be like in our lives right now. Be sure to have them check it out, my da doesn't ever but wants to know what is being said, she doesn't have a PC.