Surgical management of paraesophageal hernias: outcome and quality of life analysis

Abstract

Background: Paraesophageal hernias (PEHs) have protean clinical manifestations, and a variety of surgical approaches may be appropriate. We report both surgical and quality-of-life (QoL) outcomes for PEH repairs.

Methods: All patients undergoing elective repair of PEHs were evaluated preoperatively for symptoms and the radiologic appearance of the PEH. In addition, patients undergoing elective repair completed the SF-36, a generic QoL instrument, preoperatively and postoperatively. Short-term postoperative complications were recorded. Symptomatic outcomes and QoL outcomes were assessed.

Results: Over a 50-month period, 44 PEH repairs were completed. 3 patients represented emergently - 2 with gastric ischemia, 1 with frank gastric necrosis. The most common presenting symptoms were heartburn (48%), chest pain (27%), abdominal pain (20%), regurgitation (20%), dysphagia (18%), and microcytic anemia (18%). Only 4 patients (9%) were truly asymptomatic. 31 repairs were attempted laparoscopically, 5 were converted to open procedures. There were no gastric or esophageal perforations. 91% of patients had resolution of preoperative symptoms. The only death was in a patient with gastric necrosis. 5 of 8 patients treated by crural repair without fundoplication developed postoperative heartburn. Patients treated laparoscopically had superior QoL scores than patients treated by open surgery in the domains of physical functioning (90 vs. 65), role-physical (100 vs. 0), role-emotional (100 vs. 66.7), vitality (80 vs. 55), and social functioning (100 vs. 75). However, there were 3 symptomatic recurrences in the laparoscopic group (11.5%), all in patients with large, type-III hiatal hernias.

Conclusions: PEH is a potentially life-threatening disease. Although most can be repaired laparoscopically, specific principles must be individualized to each patient to minimize complications and recurrences. A fundoplication should be added to all repairs. Laparoscopic repairs can produce superior QoL results: however, patients with large, type-III hernias may not be appropriate candidates for laparoscopic repair.