[Bleeding from hiatal hernia (author's transl)]

Report on 7 cases of massive hemorrhage from hiatal hernias. In all cases diagnosis was made before operation by oesophago-gastroscopy and/or by selective angiography. Early operation is the only successful therapy. The procedure depends on the kind of lesion and the type of hernia. In sliding hernia a Nissen fundoplication, in the paraesophageal type a fundoplication combined with gastropexy is performed. In cases of hyperacidity a combination with vagotomy and pylorplasty is necessary. Ulcers should be excised or resected by a Billroth-I-type gastrectomy. All seven patients could be cured.