Expect stay in the hospital one to two days after this procedure. On the morning after your procedure you will get a swallowing study to make sure everything is in the proper place. After that, you will start on a liquid diet.
Hiatal Hernia Surgery Recovery Facts
When it comes to hiatal hernia surgery recovery, you can expect to go home the same day. Of course, this is only if you had a laparoscopy and fully recovered from the anesthesia. Otherwise, patients may need to stay in the hospital overnight. You can expect to feel better fast.
There is usually minimal pain associated with this operation. The abdomen will be sore as well as the small incision sites, and some patients have shoulder pain for the first day or two. The shoulder pain is caused by gas left in your abdomen during the operation. It will disappear on its own.
Surgery Follow-Up
Though individual cases vary, you'll need at least one night in the hospital after hiatal hernia surgery, and it typically takes three to four weeks to see total rehabilitation.
All patients stay overnight in the hospital, but usually just one night. The laparoscopic approach avoids the large incision and the pain that goes along with that incision. The hiatal hernia repair on the inside itself causes very little discomfort.
A hiatal hernia repair is a serious surgery. You will need some time to recover after the surgery. Your healthcare provider will suggest this surgery if you have a hiatal hernia and long-term (chronic) heartburn and other symptoms. He or she will try other things before doing surgery.
There are no significant restrictions on activity after surgery. That means it is OK to walk, climb stairs, have sexual intercourse, mow the lawn, or exercise as long as it doesn't hurt. In fact, returning to normal activity as soon as possible will most likely enhance your recovery.
After laparoscopic surgery, most people usually do not experience much pain, but they may feel discomfort in their abdomen and chest and have difficulty swallowing for a short time. After a laparoscopy, a person may go home the same day if they recover from the anesthetic.
Because the surgery makes your stomach a little smaller, you may get full more quickly when you eat. In 2 to 3 months, the stomach adjusts. You will be able to eat your usual amounts of food.
The most common complications are difficulty swallowing, abdominal bloating, diarrhea, and nausea. Most patients can't belch as well as they could before surgery, although the inability to belch is distinctly uncommon. About 25% of patients can't vomit after surgery.
It is not uncommon to lose some weight after the operation but generally most people have regained any lost weight at 3 -6 months.
After hiatal hernia surgery, you should avoid hard or crunchy foods, caffeine, alcohol, fatty foods, and spicy food. You should also drink plenty of fluids and eat soft foods that are easy to swallow.
You can start eating a soft sloppy diet from the day after your operation. Sloppy food is any food that is moist, can be broken into pieces with a fork, and does not require a lot of chewing. Examples include cereals that have been softened in milk, smooth soup (no lumps) and pureed foods.
Elevate the upper body 30-45 degrees to prevent shallow breathing and additional stress on the abdominal muscles and surgical area. Resting in an elevated position also helps reduce pain and stiffness. Use pillows to maintain comfort, support, and proper elevation during sleep.
Don't move quickly or lift anything heavy until you are feeling better. Be active. Walking is a good choice. You most likely can return to light activity after 1 to 3 weeks, depending on the type of surgery you had.
Compression Garments after Hernia Surgery
Abdominal compression garments, also known as a 'hernia belt', wrap around the abdomen, fitting tightly to provide support but not so tightly that they cut off circulation to the area.
During hiatal hernia repair surgery, a surgeon: Puts you to sleep with general anesthesia. Makes multiple tiny incisions in the abdomen. Uses high-tech instruments to move protruding stomach tissue back where it should be (beneath the diaphragm muscle).
You should have the problem evaluated by the doctor to make sure it isn't a complication from the surgery. Ask the doctor if you could be experiencing gas bloat. A common side effect of the surgery is gas bloat. Air becomes trapped in the stomach, causing pain and discomfort.
A thin tube (catheter) may be put into your bladder. This will help you to urinate safely during surgery. You will be placed on your back on the operating table. The anesthesiologist will keep checking your heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, and blood oxygen level during the surgery.
Once in the pre-op area, medical staff will also provide you with a heated blanket; warming up the body can help prevent infection. Medications: In the pre-operative room, you will also be fitted with an intravenous (IV) line, which will be used to deliver anesthesia, and be given medications to prevent blood clots.
Importance Urinary catheters are commonly placed during laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair as a presumed protection against postoperative urinary retention (PUR), one of the most common complications following this operation.
Avoid the following until swallowing is free and easy (usually four weeks): • fresh bread • rice • cake • hard biscuits • grilled and fried meat, especially steak, chicken, unless pureed, minced or finely chopped • aerated drinks (soft drinks, milkshakes – unless soda water is required to relieve blockage) • highly ...
Normally, you should refrain from driving for at least 1 week after a hernia repair operation.
Laparoscopic hiatal hernia repair has been associated with other complications like pneumothorax, pulmonary thromboembolism, postoperative leak or heart injury [9]. Cardiac complications related to laparoscopic fundoplication have been reported in the literature.