[Paraesophageal hiatal hernia. Clinical considerations and report of a case].

OBJECTIVE

The authors report their experience about the treatment about a case of paraesophageal hernia and they redefine nosography.

DESIGN

Report of 1 case; evaluation of effectiveness of surgical treatment. 1-year follow up. Review of its clinical presentation.

SETTING

Operative Unit of General and Thoracic Surgery. Department of General Surgery, Emergency and Transplantation. Polyclinc, University of Palermo.

INTERVENTION: The patient was submitted to surgery with radical and curative intention.

RESULTS

Complete resolution of the pathology. Follow-up (1 year) negative.

CONCLUSION

Management of patients affected by paraesophageal hernia is difficult, because the physiopathology, anatomic basis and clinical presentation are not yet clear. The aim of surgical treatment is to reduce the hernia, to repair the hiatal gap and to make a correct antireflux procedure. According to us, the open surgical approach is very safe and useful because allows more safe surgical dissection, even if there is a big scar on the abdomen, the postoperative staying in hospital is longer. Finally, we emphasise the role of follow-up in these patients: it's the only way to prevent complications.