What is Hiatal Hernia

Hiatal Hernias are defined as the situation when stomach is pushed up from the abdomen into the chest cavity through an opening in the diaphragm through which esophagus connects to the stomach. Treatments will be given depending on the type of Hernia and the seriousness involved.

Types of Hiatal Hernia

Basically, 4 types of Hiatal Hernia are found:-

• Type I Hiatal Hernia: It is the most type of Hernia and is also renamed as sliding Hiatal Hernia. Almost 95 % cases of a hiatal hernia belongs to Type 1. In this hernia, Gastroesophageal junction is herniated into the chest cavity.
• Type II (paraesophageal) a hiatal hernia:- In this kind of a hernia, stomach herniates through diaphragmatic esophageal hiatus alongside the esophagus. Gastroesophageal junction remains below the hiatus and the stomach rotates in front of the esophagus and herniates into the chest. It rarely happens and it counts for 5% of all the cases. If more than 30% of the stomach herniates into the chest, the condition is called giant paraesophageal hernia. If it occurs, it may carry lots of complications.
• Type III a hiatal hernia: In this kind of a hernia, gastroesophageal junction is herniated above the diaphragm and the stomach is herniated alongside the esophagus.

• Type IV Hiatal Hernia: When other organs such as colon, small intestine, spleen also get herniated into the chest in addition to stomach, it is called type IV hiatal hernia.

Check with the doctor and evaluate which type of a hernia you are suffering from to get the right & prompt treatment.