gastric hernia???

turquoise · Feb 5, 2005

i'm not sure what a fundal plication is (everytime i try to google it i get Mediao sites instead of a definition). My mom had a paraesophageal hernia repaired last May. (Is that what you were asking about?) About 75% of her stomach had slipped up into the thoracic (?) cavity. It took about 4 hours to repair and there is a high risk of damaging the spleen and having to remove it (the surgeon nicked hers but was able to repair it.) She had a 'Y' incision (part under her breast and part straight down her abdomen) (paraesophageal hernias are apparently a rare type of hiatal hernia- from what I found only make up about 4% of hiatal hernias.) She has continually had problems since then with h-pylori infections and her symptoms have now returned. They did x-rays yesterday and found an abnormality; she meets with her surgeon again next week to see if they need to go back in and fix it again. She recovered fairly well from her surgery (considering she is a senior and has diabetes, HTN, etc.) My grandfather had a sliding hernia repair but it was back in the middle ages where he had to be upside to with an NG tube for a month and a half or so. My mom didn't have to have an NG and she wasn't NPO for very long after surgery. I hope I'm talking about what you asked. If not, sorry for the confusion!

stevierae · Feb 5, 2005

Has anyone heard of a gastric hernia??? I had a fundal plication done for severe GERD. Since then I have noticed a bulge at top of my abdomen. Now it is so big I look 9 months pregnant. It is hard to touch. I see surgeon on tues. but was wondering if anyone ever heard of this. I am surgical nurse by trade but have only seen inguinal and umbilical hernias.

You may have a diaphragmatic hernia. The "wrap" may have come loose. It could be a simple incisional hernia--or, as the other poster said, a paraesophageal hernia. Does it feel as if you have subcutaneous emphysema--that is, does this "bulge" seem to have trapped air under the skin--does it feel like you are pressing on bubble wrap? Google "Nissen fundoplication" & "complications" together, or google "diaphragmatic hernia" & "paraesophageal hernia" separately, and read about the signs and symptoms.

Good thing you are going to the doctor on Tuesday. I suspect you will need more surgery to fix the problem. Keep us informed.

zumalong · Feb 8, 2005

saw surgeon today--I have a 10 1/2cm x 10 1/2cm ventral hernia secondary to surgery in august. Due to my resp. status he wants to wait til end of May to repair. (doesn't think he can do it laproscopic).