Acute hiatal hernia with oesophageal perforation following Heller's operation

Abstract

The unusual complication of acute hiatal hernia with oesophageal rupture following transthoracic oesophagomyotomy is described in 2 cases. Inadvertent disruption and widening of the oesophageal hiatus at the time of surgery coupled with increased intragastric and intra-abdominal pressure were the probable causes. The hiatus should be carefully inspected on completion of the myotomy and anatomical restoration performed if necessary in order to avoid this complication. Urgent surgical intervention, gastric fundal serosal patch repair and intravenous alimentation proved successful in the management of these patients.

Diaphragmatic Hernia after Laparoscopic Esophagomyotomy for Esophageal Achalasia in Pregnancy

“…Diaphragmatic hernia after myotomy surgery has been reported acutely and as a late complication in the nonpregnant state [14, 15]. The paraesophageal diaphragmatic hernia most likely resulted from a weakness in the diaphragm from the myotomy surgery [16, 17].…”