Hiatal Hernia Fundoplication Surgery in Ahmedabad

Most people with a hiatus hernia and reflux are treated with lifestyle changes and medicines, and never need an operation. Fundoplication is an operation that repairs the hernia and strengthens the valve by wrapping the upper part of the stomach around the lower food pipe. It is considered when reflux is not controlled by medicines, when complications develop, or when the hernia is large and at risk of getting trapped.

Tirtham Surgical Hospital, Science City Road, Sola, Ahmedabad, provides surgical evaluation of hiatus hernia and reflux, and laparoscopic (keyhole) hiatus hernia repair with fundoplication, with a 24-hour emergency operating team. This page explains the types of hiatus hernia, symptoms, tests, treatment without surgery, when surgery is considered, the operation, recovery and risks.

What Is a Hiatus Hernia and Why Does It Cause Reflux?

The oesophagus (food pipe) passes through a small opening in the diaphragm, called the hiatus, before it joins the stomach. At this junction, the lower oesophageal sphincter and the diaphragm work together as a valve that lets food into the stomach but stops acid from flowing back.

When the hiatus becomes wide and part of the stomach slides up into the chest, this valve no longer works properly. Acid and stomach contents can then flow back into the food pipe, causing heartburn and other reflux symptoms. Over time, acid can inflame and damage the lining of the food pipe.

Types of Hiatus Hernia

Type	What happens	Main concern
Type I — sliding hernia	The junction of the food pipe and stomach slides up into the chest; the most common type	Acid reflux (GERD)
Type II — paraoesophageal hernia	The junction stays in place, but part of the stomach pushes up beside the food pipe	The stomach can twist or get trapped
Type III — mixed hernia	Both the junction and part of the stomach move into the chest	Reflux and risk of the stomach getting trapped
Type IV — complex hernia	Other organs, such as the bowel, also move into the chest through the hiatus	Risk of trapping of the stomach or other organs

A small sliding hernia is usually treated by controlling reflux. A large paraoesophageal or mixed hernia that causes symptoms is more often repaired with surgery, because the stomach can become twisted or trapped, which is an emergency.

Causes and Risk Factors

Increasing age, as the tissues around the hiatus weaken
Excess body weight, especially around the abdomen
Pregnancy
Long-standing cough, constipation with straining, or regular heavy lifting
A naturally wide hiatus present from birth
Previous surgery or injury in the upper abdomen or chest

Symptoms

Many small hiatus hernias cause no symptoms and are found during an endoscopy or scan for another reason. When symptoms occur, they are usually caused by reflux:

Heartburn — a burning feeling behind the breastbone, often worse after meals, when lying down or when bending forward
Acid or food coming back up into the throat or mouth (regurgitation), and a sour or bitter taste
Upper abdominal discomfort, bloating and frequent burping
Difficulty swallowing, or food feeling stuck
Long-standing cough, hoarse voice, throat clearing or worsening of asthma
Feeling full quickly or breathlessness after meals with a large hernia

Symptoms That Need Prompt Medical Attention

Difficulty swallowing that keeps getting worse
Vomiting blood or passing black stools
Unexplained weight loss or anaemia
Severe chest or upper abdominal pain with vomiting or retching — go to the nearest emergency facility

How a Hiatus Hernia Is Diagnosed — Step by Step

Medical history and examination: symptoms, their pattern, medicines used and their effect, weight and lifestyle
Upper GI endoscopy: a thin camera passed through the mouth shows the hernia and any inflammation, narrowing, ulcer or Barrett's oesophagus (a change in the lining caused by long-term acid)
Barium swallow X-ray: shows the size and type of the hernia and how the food pipe empties
Oesophageal manometry: measures the pressure and movement of the food pipe muscles; usually done before surgery to help choose the type of wrap and to rule out other swallowing disorders
24-hour pH or pH-impedance study: measures reflux over a day; used to confirm reflux, especially when endoscopy is normal
CT scan: used in some patients with a large hernia, to see which organs are in the chest
Treatment plan: the doctor explains whether medicines or surgery are suitable, with the benefits and risks of each

Related page: Upper GI endoscopy

Hiatal Hernia Treatment Without Surgery

Most people with reflux from a hiatus hernia are treated without surgery.

Lifestyle Changes

Eat smaller meals, and avoid lying down for 2–3 hours after eating
Raise the head end of the bed
Lose excess weight
Stop smoking and reduce alcohol
Notice and limit foods that bring on your symptoms, such as fried or spicy food, tea, coffee or carbonated drinks
Avoid tight clothing around the waist

Medicines

Antacids and alginates: quick, short-term relief
H2 blockers: reduce acid production
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs): reduce acid more strongly; the main medicine for GERD

Medicines control symptoms but do not repair the hernia. Long-term use of any medicine should be discussed regularly with your doctor.

When Is Hiatal Hernia Surgery Considered?

Situation	Usual approach
Mild or occasional reflux, no complications	Lifestyle changes and medicines
Reflux well controlled with medicines	Continue medical treatment
Reflux not controlled despite proper medical treatment	Surgery may be considered after tests
Need for long-term medicines that the patient does not wish to continue, or side effects from medicines	Surgery is one option to discuss
Complications such as severe oesophagitis, narrowing (stricture) or repeated bleeding	Surgery may be advised
Regurgitation or reflux into the airways causing chest problems	Surgery may be considered
Large paraoesophageal or mixed hernia causing symptoms	Surgery is usually advised, even if reflux is mild
Stomach twisted or trapped in the chest	Emergency surgery

What Fundoplication Does

In this operation, the part of the stomach that has moved into the chest is brought back into the abdomen, and the widened hiatus is narrowed with stitches. This is called hiatus hernia repair (or crural repair). The upper part of the stomach, called the fundus, is then wrapped around the lower food pipe to rebuild the anti-reflux valve. This wrap is the fundoplication.

Type of wrap	How much of the food pipe is wrapped	Generally used when
Nissen fundoplication	360° — a full wrap	Strong reflux control is needed and the food pipe muscles work normally
Toupet fundoplication	270° — a partial wrap from behind	The food pipe muscles are weaker, or to reduce the chance of swallowing difficulty and gas bloating
Dor fundoplication	180–200° — a partial wrap from the front	Selected patients, often together with other food pipe operations

In some large hernias, the surgeon may reinforce the repair of the hiatus with a mesh. The type of wrap and the use of mesh are decided based on the test results and the findings during surgery, and are discussed with you beforehand.

Hiatal Hernia Operation in Ahmedabad: Step by Step

General anaesthesia is given
Small incisions are made in the upper abdomen for a camera and fine instruments
The part of the stomach in the chest, and the hernia sac, are gently brought back into the abdomen
The lower food pipe is freed so that enough length lies within the abdomen
The widened hiatus is narrowed with stitches, with or without a mesh
The fundus is wrapped around the lower food pipe and stitched in place
The incisions are closed

Keyhole surgery generally means less pain and a quicker recovery than open surgery. Sometimes the operation is changed to open surgery when that is safer.

Other Approaches

Robotic-assisted surgery follows the same steps using a robotic system. Endoscopic procedures done through the mouth are available at some centres for selected patients with reflux and no large hernia. These options, and whether they suit you, can be discussed with your doctor.

Before Surgery

Tests to confirm the diagnosis and plan the wrap — endoscopy, barium swallow, and manometry and pH study when needed
Blood tests, ECG and other tests as advised, and a pre-anaesthesia check-up
A check of all medicines; blood thinners may need to be stopped or adjusted, only as advised by the doctor
Advice on weight loss and stopping smoking, which can improve the result
Fasting instructions before surgery
Written informed consent after the operation, its benefits, risks and alternatives have been explained

Recovery After Fundoplication

Hospital stay: usually about 1–3 days after keyhole surgery
Walking: from the same or the next day
Light activity: usually within about 2 weeks
Heavy lifting and strenuous exercise: avoided for several weeks, as advised by the surgeon
Follow-up: visits to check eating, swallowing and symptoms

Diet After Surgery

Swelling around the new wrap makes swallowing tighter for the first few weeks, so food is reintroduced in stages.

Stage	What you eat	Usual timing
Stage 1	Liquids	First few days, as advised
Stage 2	Soft and mashed foods	The following weeks, as advised
Stage 3	Normal diet, introduced gradually	Once swallowing is comfortable, as advised

Eat small, frequent meals, eat slowly, chew well, and take sips of fluid with meals. Bread, dry rice, tough meat and other foods that can get stuck are usually avoided at first. Specific diet advice is given before you go home.

Common Effects in the First Weeks

Some difficulty swallowing, which usually improves as the swelling settles
Bloating and fullness after meals (gas bloat)
Difficulty burping or vomiting
Feeling full quickly, and some weight loss
More wind (flatus), and loose stools in some patients

These effects usually lessen over weeks to months. Avoiding carbonated drinks, eating slowly and avoiding swallowing air help.

When to Contact the Hospital After Surgery

Inability to swallow liquids or your own saliva
Severe chest or abdominal pain
Repeated retching or vomiting
Fever, or redness and discharge from a wound
Breathlessness, or pain and swelling in the calf

Long-Term Results

In carefully selected patients, fundoplication usually gives good long-term control of reflux, and many patients can stop or reduce acid medicines. Results are not the same for everyone. Over the years, reflux symptoms can return, the wrap can loosen or slip, and the hernia can come back — more often after repair of a large hernia. Some patients need medicines again, and a few need a further operation. Careful selection, proper tests before surgery and the right type of wrap help reduce these risks.

Risks and Possible Complications

Fundoplication is generally safe, but like any operation it has risks. The surgeon explains these before taking consent.

Difficulty swallowing that lasts longer than expected — may need stretching (dilatation) by endoscopy or, rarely, another operation
Gas bloating and inability to burp or vomit
Return of reflux, or return of the hernia
Slipping or loosening of the wrap
Injury to the food pipe or stomach — rare, but serious
Air entering the chest cavity (pneumothorax) during surgery — usually treated during or soon after the operation
Bleeding, including from the spleen — rare
Effects on stomach emptying or bowel habit if the nerves near the food pipe are affected
Conversion to open surgery
Wound infection, chest infection and blood clots in the legs or lungs
Anaesthesia-related risks — assessed at the pre-anaesthesia check-up

Hiatal Hernia Surgery Cost in Ahmedabad

The cost differs from patient to patient. The main factors are:

The size and type of hernia, and the type of wrap
Whether a mesh is used
Tests needed before surgery, such as endoscopy, barium swallow, manometry and pH study
Laparoscopic or open technique
Planned or emergency surgery
Length of hospital stay, room category, and intensive care if needed
Medicines and follow-up visits

Tests before hiatal hernia fundoplication surgery in Ahmedabad, such as manometry and pH study, may be billed separately when they are arranged at another centre.

A written estimate based on the patient's diagnosis and chosen room category can be requested from the hospital.

Insurance

Mediclaim and cashless facility is available, subject to the patient's policy terms and insurer approval
Assistance is provided with documents required for reimbursement claims

Hiatal Hernia Fundoplication Doctor in Ahmedabad

Reflux from a hiatus hernia is usually treated first by a physician or gastroenterologist with lifestyle changes and medicines. When surgery is considered, fundoplication is performed by a general or laparoscopic surgeon, after tests that may involve several doctors:

Doctor	Role in hiatus hernia and reflux care
Family physician or physician	First assessment of heartburn and reflux; starts lifestyle advice and medicines
Gastroenterologist	Treats reflux that does not settle, and performs upper GI endoscopy, manometry and pH studies at many centres
General or laparoscopic surgeon	Advises whether surgery suits you, and performs hiatus hernia repair with fundoplication
Radiologist	Performs and reports the barium swallow X-ray and CT scan
Anaesthetist	Checks fitness for surgery and gives the anaesthesia
Cardiologist	Consulted when chest pain needs a heart problem to be ruled out

Hiatal Hernia Surgery Doctor in Ahmedabad

Fundoplication is a planned operation in most cases, so there is time to ask your hiatal hernia surgery doctor in Ahmedabad a few clear questions. The answers help you decide between continuing medicines and surgery.

What type and size of hiatus hernia do I have?
Have medicines and lifestyle changes been tried properly, and why is surgery now being advised?
Which tests are needed before surgery — endoscopy, barium swallow, manometry or pH study — and where are they done?
Which wrap is planned — Nissen or Toupet — and why does it suit me?
Will a mesh be used to repair the hiatus?
How long will swallowing difficulty and bloating usually last, and what diet should I follow?
What is the chance of reflux or the hernia returning, and might I need medicines again?
What does the estimate include, and is the surgery covered by my insurance policy?

Hiatal Hernia Fundoplication Surgeon in Ahmedabad

Fundoplication is performed by a qualified surgeon, usually one with a postgraduate degree in general surgery (MS or DNB) and training in laparoscopic surgery. When choosing a hiatal hernia fundoplication surgeon in Ahmedabad, these points are worth checking:

What to check	Why it matters	How to check
A postgraduate qualification in surgery	Hiatus hernia repair and fundoplication are abdominal operations	Ask the hospital, or look at the qualifications listed for the doctor
Registration with a medical council	Every practising doctor in India must be registered	Search the Gujarat Medical Council register or the National Medical Register
Laparoscopic surgery	Most fundoplications are now done by keyhole surgery	Ask whether laparoscopic fundoplication is routinely performed at the hospital
Tests before surgery	Manometry and pH study help confirm reflux and choose the type of wrap	Ask which tests are advised in your case and how they are arranged
Availability in emergencies	A twisted or trapped stomach in the chest needs urgent surgery	Ask whether an emergency operating team is available round the clock
A clear explanation of options and risks	It supports an informed decision	The surgeon should explain medicines versus surgery, the choice of wrap, side effects and the chance of recurrence

Hiatal Hernia Fundoplication Hospital in Ahmedabad

Fundoplication depends on careful tests before surgery, keyhole surgery on the food pipe and stomach, and close attention to swallowing and diet afterwards. These are the facilities that matter most:

Facility	Why it matters
Upper GI endoscopy	Shows the hernia, inflammation, narrowing or Barrett's oesophagus
Access to barium swallow, manometry and pH study	Confirm reflux, show the hernia type and help choose the wrap; some are arranged at other centres
Operation theatre for laparoscopic surgery	Allows keyhole repair, and a safe change to open surgery when needed
Anaesthesia services	Needed for safe general anaesthesia
24-hour emergency surgical team	A twisted or trapped stomach needs urgent surgery
Intensive care, when needed	Supports patients after emergency or complex repairs
Diet guidance and follow-up	Food is reintroduced in stages while swallowing settles
Insurance assistance	Helps with cashless approval or reimbursement documents

The facilities available at Tirtham Surgical Hospital are listed further below on this page.

Treating Surgeon

At Tirtham Surgical Hospital, hiatal hernia fundoplication surgery in Ahmedabad is performed by:

Detail	Information
Name	Dr. Alpesh Patel
Qualification	MBBS, MS (Civil Hospital, Surat)
Specialty	General & Laparoscopic Surgery
Designation	Founder, Tirtham Surgical Hospital
Registration status	Registered Medical Practitioner
Registration number	Gujarat Medical Council Reg. No. G14657
OPD availability	On appointment, Mon–Sat
Emergency surgical services	24-hour emergency operating team at Tirtham Surgical Hospital

View doctor profile

Facilities at Tirtham Surgical Hospital

24-hour emergency operating team
Laparoscopic and endoscopic setup
Mediclaim and cashless facility, subject to policy terms
6 themed recovery rooms
Large parking facility

Frequently asked questions

When should I see a hiatal hernia fundoplication doctor in Ahmedabad?+

See a doctor if reflux continues despite proper medicines, if you need medicines for a long time and do not wish to continue them, or if a scan shows a large hiatus hernia. Reflux is often first treated by a physician or gastroenterologist. When surgery is being considered, a hiatal hernia fundoplication surgeon in Ahmedabad can advise, after tests, whether an operation is suitable and which type of wrap fits your case. When choosing a hiatal hernia fundoplication specialist in Ahmedabad, check the surgeon's qualifications and medical council registration. Vomiting blood, black stools, worsening difficulty swallowing or severe chest pain need urgent care.

Are hiatus hernia and hiatal hernia the same?+

Yes. Both names describe the same condition, in which part of the stomach moves up through the hiatus in the diaphragm into the chest.

Do I need surgery, or can medicines control my reflux?+

Most people are treated well with lifestyle changes and medicines such as antacids, H2 blockers or PPIs, and do not need surgery. Fundoplication is considered when reflux is not controlled despite proper treatment, when complications develop, when the patient does not wish to continue long-term medicines, or for a large paraoesophageal hernia that causes symptoms.

Is the hernia repair done together with fundoplication?+

Usually, yes. In the same keyhole operation, the stomach is brought back into the abdomen, the widened hiatus is narrowed, and the fundoplication wrap is made to control reflux.

Nissen or Toupet — which wrap will I have?+

It depends mainly on how well your food pipe muscles work, which is measured by manometry before surgery, and on the findings during surgery. A Nissen is a full 360° wrap. A Toupet is a partial 270° wrap, often chosen when the food pipe muscles are weaker or to reduce swallowing difficulty and gas bloating. Your surgeon explains the choice before the operation.

What can I eat after fundoplication?+

Food is reintroduced in stages — liquids first, then soft and mashed foods, then a normal diet over the following weeks as swallowing becomes comfortable. Small, frequent meals, eating slowly and chewing well help. Specific diet advice is given before you go home.

What are the side effects of fundoplication?+

Common early effects are some difficulty swallowing, bloating, difficulty burping or vomiting, and feeling full quickly. These usually improve over weeks to months. A small number of patients have longer-lasting swallowing difficulty or bloating that needs further treatment.

Can reflux or the hernia come back after surgery?+

Yes, in some patients. Over the years, the wrap can loosen or slip, and the hernia can come back, more often after repair of a large hernia. Some patients need medicines again, and a few need another operation.

What facilities should a hiatal hernia fundoplication hospital in Ahmedabad have?+

It should have upper GI endoscopy, access to barium swallow, oesophageal manometry and pH studies, an operation theatre equipped for laparoscopic surgery, anaesthesia services, emergency surgical availability, intensive care when needed, and diet guidance after surgery. You can also ask how the tests before surgery are arranged.

What decides the cost of fundoplication surgery?+

The cost depends on the size and type of hernia, the type of wrap, whether a mesh is used, the tests needed, the surgical technique, planned or emergency surgery, the length of stay, room category and any intensive care. A written estimate based on your diagnosis can be requested from the hospital.

Is fundoplication surgery covered by health insurance?+

Medically necessary surgery is generally covered under health insurance policies, subject to policy terms, waiting periods (including those for pre-existing conditions) and insurer approval. Tirtham Surgical Hospital has a mediclaim and cashless facility and helps with the required documents.

Contact and Location

Tirtham Surgical Hospital

3rd Floor, Silver Radiance 2, 312-315, Science City Road, Sola, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 380060

Call:: +91-9428736360
WhatsApp:: +91-9428736360
Landline:: 079-27436360 | 079-40036360
Tirtham SurgiMitra (second-opinion line):: +91-9974416665
Email:: info@tirthamhospital.com
Get Directions:: Science City Road, Sola, Ahmedabad
Emergency:: 24-hour emergency operating team
OPD timings:: On appointment, Mon–Sat

Next step

Plan your procedure

Share your reports on WhatsApp for a guided opinion, or visit us on Science City Road for an in-person examination.

Book an appointment Visit the hospital