A Hiatal Hernia is a portion of the stomach that intermittently protrudes through the diaphragm into the thoracic cavity. This is usually associated with increased pressure within the abdominal cavity. Cough, physical exertion, straining or any mechanism that increases intra-abdominal pressure may cause an increase in intra-abdominal pressure.
In the past, hiatal hernias have been thought to be associated with heartburn. While many patients with heartburn have hiatal hernias, a one-to-one relationship is not present. A hiatal hernia is an intermittent abnormality. It is dynamic and may be missed on endoscopy or during an UGI series (radiology procedure). A majority of patients over the age of 60 have hiatal hernias. Hiatal Hernias do not need be routinely repaired but can, on occasion, require surgical intervention.
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