Robotic hiatus hernia

A robotic hiatus hernia repair is an advanced, minimally invasive procedure that uses robotic assistance to correct a hiatus hernia. A hiatus hernia occurs when part of the stomach pushes through the diaphragm into the chest cavity. This condition is often associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and left untreated, it can lead to complications such as difficulty swallowing, heartburn, and in severe cases, strangulation of the hernia.

A hiatus hernia happens when the upper part of the stomach bulges through the diaphragm into the chest. The diaphragm is the muscle that separates the abdomen from the chest, and normally, the esophagus passes through a small opening in this muscle called the hiatus. When the hiatus enlarges, part of the stomach can move above it, causing a sliding or paraesophageal hernia.

There are two main types of hiatus hernias:
Sliding Hiatus Hernia: This is the most common type, where the junction between the esophagus and stomach moves above the diaphragm. It is often associated with GERD.
Paraesophageal Hiatus Hernia: In this type, part of the stomach pushes through the hiatus next to the esophagus, but the esophagus itself remains in its normal position.
The condition can be asymptomatic, but when symptoms do occur, they can include heartburn, regurgitation, chest pain, difficulty swallowing, or even shortness of breath.