Antenatal detection of hiatus hernia
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Updated: Oct 29, 2026

Laparoscopic Repair of Para-Esophageal Hernia Using Absorbable Biosynthetic Mesh
Published on: September 11, 2021
J Chacko1, W D Ford, M E Furness
1Department of Paediatric Surgery, Women's and Children's Hospital, North Adelaide, South Australia.
A routine ultrasound scan in a primigravida at 29 weeks' gestation showed that her fetus had a fluid-filled viscus above the diaphragm in the mid-line. This was initially thought to be the stomach, either as part of a congenital Bochdalek diaphragmatic hernia or an hiatus hernia. Subsequent scans suggested that this was the stomach with an additional loop of bowel. After birth, laparotomy confirmed that the stomach had herniated into the chest through a very lax oesophageal hiatus. The stomach was easily reduced into the abdomen with no evidence to suggest a congenital short oesophagus, the crura were tightened, and an anterior fundoplication performed.
A routine ultrasound scan in a primigravida at 29 weeks' gestation showed that her fetus had a fluid-filled viscus above the diaphragm in the mid-line. This was initially thought to be the stomach, either as part of a congenital Bochdalek diaphragmatic hernia or an hiatus hernia. Subsequent scans suggested that this was the stomach with an additional loop of bowel. After birth, laparotomy confirmed that the stomach had herniated into the chest through a very lax oesophageal hiatus. The stomach was easily reduced into the abdomen with no evidence to suggest a congenital short oesophagus, the crura were tightened, and an anterior fundoplication performed.
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