Hiatus Hernia Surgery Dubai
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If you often feel a burning sensation in your chest after eating, a heavy pressure behind the breastbone, or find yourself short of breath when you bend forward, it may be more than simple indigestion. A hiatus hernia could be contributing to these symptoms.
In many cases, careful lifestyle adjustments and medical treatment are enough. However, understanding when repair is the wiser option can help prevent long-term damage to the oesophagus and improve day-to-day comfort.
Prof. Dr Ahmed Hassn is a UK-trained Consultant General, Laparoscopic, Bariatric, and Oesophago-Gastric Surgeon with more than 25 years of experience and over 11,000 laparoscopic surgeries performed.
His work focuses on complex upper gastrointestinal surgery, including reflux disease and large hiatus hernias, with careful planning and minimally invasive techniques. He has performed more than 1150 laparoscopic anti reflux surgeries with excellent outcomes and has one of the largest series for laparoscopic repair of giant hiatus hernia in the UK.
If you are searching for Hiatus Hernia Surgery Dubai and want clear, evidence-based guidance, you are in the right place.
What is a Hiatus Hernia?
A hiatus hernia occurs when the top part of the stomach slips upwards through an opening in the diaphragm and enters the chest. The diaphragm separates the chest from the abdomen.
The oesophagus, or food pipe, normally passes through a small gap in this muscle before joining the stomach. When that opening weakens, part of the stomach can move up through it.
When that junction shifts upward, the lower oesophageal sphincter can become less effective. That can allow acid and stomach contents to wash back into the oesophagus, leading to reflux symptoms. In many people, treatment for hiatus hernia starts with diet, lifestyle changes, and medication.
Hiatus Hernia surgery Dubai is considered when symptoms persist, complications develop, or the hernia is large and at risk of mechanical problems
Types of Hiatus Hernia
Hiatal hernias are commonly grouped into four types:
- Type I (sliding): The gastro-oesophageal junction slides upward. This is the most common type and is often linked with reflux.
- Type II (para-oesophageal): Part of the stomach pushes beside the oesophagus while the junction stays in place. Reflux can occur, but mechanical issues are a bigger concern.
- Type III (mixed): A combination of type I and type II, along with both sliding and para-oesophageal elements.
- Type IV (complex): The opening is wide enough for other organs (such as colon or small bowel) to move into the chest along with the stomach. This is uncommon and can be serious.
The type matters because it influences the risk profile and the decision around Hiatus Hernia Surgery Dubai.
How do you get a Hiatal Hernia?
People often ask, ‘’How do you get a hiatal hernia?’’. In most cases, it develops gradually due to a mix of tissue weakness and increased pressure in the abdomen. Common risk factors include:
- Age-related weakening of diaphragm tissues
- Excess body weight, especially around the abdomen
- Pregnancy
- Chronic constipation and straining
- Persistent cough, including COPD-related coughing
- Frequent vomiting
- Heavy lifting with repeated straining
- Prior injury, trauma, or upper abdominal surgery
- A naturally larger hiatus present from birth in some individuals
Does Hiatal Hernia cause pain?
Pain can happen in two main ways:
- Reflux-related pain: Burning discomfort (heartburn) that may spread up the chest or into the throat.
- Pressure or pinching: Larger hernias can cause chest pressure, upper abdominal pain, or discomfort when bending, coughing, or lifting.
Symptoms of Hiatal Hernia getting worse
A small hernia may cause no symptoms at all. When symptoms appear, they often worsen after large meals, when lying flat, or with bending forward. Signs that symptoms of hiatal hernia getting worse may include:
- Heartburn on most days or at night
- Sour taste, regurgitation, or frequent burping
- Difficulty swallowing or a “stuck” sensation with food
- Hoarseness, sore throat, chronic throat clearing
- Nausea, or bloating after small meals)
- Non-cardiac chest discomfort
- New breathlessness, especially after eating or when lying down
- Iron-deficiency anaemia (sometimes due to slow, unnoticed bleeding
If symptoms keep escalating despite consistent medication and careful habits, it is reasonable to discuss hiatus hernia surgery Dubai.
Diagnosis and assessment
Diagnosis begins with a history of symptoms and a focused examination. Tests may include:
- Upper endoscopy: Checks for oesophageal irritation, ulcers, Barrett’s changes, and confirms hernia anatomy.
- Barium swallow (contrast X-ray): Shows how the oesophagus and stomach sit and move during swallowing.
- Oesophageal manometry: Measures swallow function and motility, helpful when planning the type of fundoplication.
- 24-hour pH monitoring: Measures acid exposure and links symptoms to reflux.
A structured evaluation ensures the right treatment for hiatus hernia, and avoids unnecessary surgery when symptoms come from a different condition.
Treatment for Hiatus Hernia
Many patients do well without surgery. Treatment for hiatus hernia typically progresses in steps.
Lifestyle and medication
- Eat smaller meals more often and avoid late-night meals
- Stay upright for around 2 to 3 hours after eating
- Raise the head of the bed by about 15 to 20 cm
- Avoid tight clothing around the abdomen
- Stop smoking
- Review reflux-trigger foods and drinks
Medication may include antacids, H2 blockers, or proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). These reduce acid exposure and allow healing, but they do not repair the anatomical opening.
When surgery is considered
Hiatus hernia surgery Dubai may be recommended when:
- Symptoms recurring once medication has stopped, i.e. patient is dependent on the medication.
Symptoms are not completely cured by the acid suppressant medications. - Reflux causes oesophagitis, strictures, or Barrett’s changes
- A para-oesophageal hernia risks trapping or twisting of the stomach
- There is recurrent aspiration, chronic cough linked to reflux, or a significant quality-of-life impact
- The hernia is large, progressive, or associated with complications such as anaemia
Hiatus Hernia Surgery Dubai: What the operation involves
The aim of hiatus hernia surgery Dubai is to restore normal anatomy and reduce reflux risk. A typical repair includes:
- Returning the stomach and lower oesophagus into the abdomen
- Reducing and strengthening the hiatus opening (crural repair)
- Rebuilding the reflux barrier, often with a fundoplication
Fundoplication options may include:
- Nissen fundoplication (360-degree wrap) in suitable patients
- Partial fundoplication if swallow motility is reduced, chosen to balance reflux control with swallowing comfort
Minimally invasive laparoscopic approaches are common and often allow faster recovery and less post-operative discomfort compared with open surgery, when clinically appropriate. Your plan should be personalised to hernia type, swallow function, and symptom pattern.
Hiatus Hernia diet
A practical hiatus hernia diet focuses on reducing reflux triggers and stomach pressure:
Foods and habits that often worsen reflux:
- Large, heavy meals
- Fried and high-fat foods
- Spicy meals
- Chocolate and peppermint
- Caffeine and fizzy drinks
- Citrus fruits and tomato-based foods
- Late-night snacking
Helpful habits:
- Smaller portions
- Slow eating, thorough chewing
- Avoid lying down soon after meals
- Keep a food diary to identify personal triggers
How to relieve shortness of breath from Hiatal Hernia
People often ask ‘’How to relieve shortness of breath from hiatal hernia?’’, especially with larger hernias. When the stomach shifts upward, it can add pressure in the chest or make reflux more uncomfortable. A few practical steps may ease this:
- Stay seated upright for a while after eating and avoid bending soon after meals
- Have smaller portions and cut down on fizzy drinks
- Raise the head end of your bed so your upper body is slightly elevated
- Try sleeping on your left side if nighttime reflux is troublesome
- Manage constipation to prevent extra strain and pressure inside the abdomen
- Seek assessment if breathlessness is new, persistent, or severe
Breathlessness should never be self-diagnosed. It needs a medical evaluation to exclude heart or lung causes.
Hiatus hernia repair and anti reflux surgery by Prof. Dr Ahmed Hassn
Choosing the best hernia surgeon in Dubai for reflux and hiatus hernia repair is about judgement, planning, and safe execution. Patients seek Prof. Dr Ahmed Hassn as he is:
- UK consultant for more than 20 years with a dedicated focus on stomach and oesophageal surgery
- Have performed more than 1150 laparoscopic anti reflux surgery with excellent outcomes (97% cure of reflux for at least 10 years)
- Regularly managing complex acid reflux, large hiatus hernias, and revision procedures after previous surgery
- Committed to careful technique, patient safety, and smoother recovery after surgery
- Actively involved in research and has contributed published work in his field
- Offers individualised care, with open discussion and honest guidance about expected result
For those considering hiatus hernia surgery Dubai, the aim is not simply to ease heartburn, but to restore normal anatomy and allow comfortable swallowing and eating in the long term.
When to seek further advice
If reflux is disturbing your sleep, meals are becoming difficult, or swallowing feels unusual, it is sensible to arrange a detailed review. Dr Ahmed Hassn provides comprehensive assessment and clear treatment planning for hiatus hernia, including surgery when it is truly appropriate.
FAQs
Not necessarily. Many people control reflux with sensible dietary changes, weight management, and medication. Surgery is usually discussed only when symptoms continue despite proper treatment, complications arise, or the hernia is large and carries added risk.
In most cases, it develops gradually. The tissues around the diaphragm can weaken with age, and repeated strain over the years increases pressure inside the abdomen. Being overweight, long-term constipation, chronic coughing, or frequent heavy lifting may all contribute.
Yes. It can cause a burning or pressure-like discomfort in the chest that sometimes feels similar to heart-related pain.
Heartburn that becomes more frequent, food coming back into the throat, difficulty swallowing, night-time symptoms, ongoing cough, tiredness linked to anaemia, or breathlessness are signs that need medical review.
Smaller, lighter meals taken earlier in the evening often help. Many people benefit from reducing fatty, spicy, or acidic foods and avoiding lying down soon after eating. Keeping note of foods that trigger symptoms can be useful, as triggers vary from person to person.
Remaining upright after meals, avoiding large portions, raising the head of the bed, and limiting bending forward may ease symptoms. Ongoing or unexplained breathlessness should always be assessed by a doctor.
After surgery, eating is introduced gradually. Patients usually begin with liquids, move to soft foods, and then return to a normal diet over time. Physical activity is increased step by step, with guidance on lifting and follow-up visits.