A hiatal hernia is a condition in which the stomach rises into the chest cavity. The esophagus joins the stomach just after the opening of the diaphragm. In some cases, the stomach can protrude through this same opening and become a hiatal hernia. “Pat” is a thirty-five year old woman who came to the hospital because she was recently having reflux problems. Like many hiatal hernias, Pats's was discovered after a regular visit to the doctor. From this point on, Pat might experience any of the following after finding out she had a hiatal hernia. Hiatal hernias are often discovered unintentionally on a simple, routine chest x-ray. The x-ray may reveal a gas-filled retrocardiac mass that may or may not show the level of air fluid (Kahn, 2008). The hernia is usually located to the left of the spine, with the exception of very large hernias in which it may extend beyond the cardiac boundaries and may eventually mimic cardiomegaly (Kahn, 2008). A hiatal hernia is usually detected using three methods, an upper endoscopy also called esophagogastroduodenoscopy or EGD, a standard chest x-ray, and an upper GI barium series (Kahn, 2008). When using an upper endoscopy to diagnose a hiatal hernia, the doctor inserts a small, flexible, lighted tube called an endoscope into the patient's mouth. The endoscope will allow examination of the stomach, esophagus and duodenum including the soft tissues and walls of the upper digestive tract (Gillson, 2008). The patient is generally advised not to eat anything for at least six hours before the procedure. The patient is given a sedative to help him relax and a local anesthetic is sprayed down his throat to suppress any gag reflex he may feel...... middle of paper ...... parotomy would require five small incisions in the abdomen and the use of a small camera with special surgical tools. Both procedures are less invasive than traditional surgeries and the patient wakes up on about the same day. The risk of infection is lower and the patient returns to normal in three to four weeks (Hiatal, 2007). To summarize, hiatal hernias can range from being barely noticeable to requiring surgery and usually consist of movement of part of the stomach. into the chest cavity. Pat tried to treat her hernia with home remedies and lifestyle changes. Then, as a result of being prescribed various medications, she ultimately had to undergo surgery to replace her stomach in her abdomen. After the whole process, Pat was back to her old self after a little over a week..