Surgery Didn’t Solve THIS!

Описание: If you're contemplating surgery for your hiatal hernia, or you've already had one and are unhappy with the results, I think you'll find this information very enlightening.

Educational content reviewed by licensed APRN medical staff. Not personal medical advice.

In the video, Dr Vikki Petersen explains why first let's review the size of the normal esophagus and how much the opening expands with a small to medium hiatal hernia. The end of your esophagus is just under 1 inch (0.98). Where the stomach joins the esophagus, the diameter increases 0.4 to 0.8 inches. So, a small hiatal hernia widens the opening from just under 1 inch to 1.3–1.7 inches. Many patients assume there’s a gaping hole in their diaphragm, so this perspective helps.

Your body has an anti-reflux barrier designed to prevent reflux. There are 3 components:

LES – lower esophageal sphincter: a valve in the lower esophagus preventing reflux

Crural diaphragm: a ring of muscle at the diaphragm opening acting as a second valve

Phrenoesophageal ligament: a sling holding the esophagus to the diaphragm, also preventing reflux

I researched how the anti-reflux barrier can recover from stress. Clinically, we see normal function return, despite limited published evidence. LES tone can partially improve with a small sliding hiatal hernia (95% are sliding). The crural diaphragm can also partially reverse on imaging, correlating with symptom improvement. This aligns with what we observe in patients: symptoms improve, function restores.

Surgeries:

Nissen fundoplication: 15–30% failure over 5–10 years

TIF: 25–40% failure due to symptom recurrence

Why surgeries fail:

Improper repair – surgeon technique

Obesity – abdominal fat increases pressure on stomach & diaphragm

Increased intra-abdominal pressure – a main cause of hiatal hernia, often multifactorial; natural treatment can resolve it once root causes are identified

Silent reflux or LPR – missed LPR means reflux is mainly bile/pepsin, lowering surgical success

Gastroparesis – slow stomach emptying increases pressure, pushing stomach upward

Esophageal dysfunction – motility issues delay food movement into the stomach

What you can do:
These six factors often share a common root cause. At Root Cause Medical Clinic, we evaluate for:

Loss of vagus nerve tone

Posture abnormalities – spinal, diaphragm, core

Nutritional deficiencies – magnesium, zinc, vitamin B12, and more

Inflammation – assessed via blood, stool, and symptoms

Poor diet – “real” food is essential

Liver and gallbladder/bile flow – normalize function

Hypothyroid – address if present

Stress – chronic stress affects vagus nerve & gut function

SIBO – test and treat if present

Type 2 Diabetes – often reversible with management

Lifestyle Essentials – chewing, breathing, and sleep techniques all influence outcomes

Disclaimer: The information here is for educational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your physician or qualified health provider with any questions regarding your health. Never disregard professional advice or delay care based on this content. Views reflect clinical experience and current scientific understanding; results may vary.

#hiatalhernia #vagusnerve #rootcausemedicine

Our licensed medical team at Root Cause Medical Clinic can help you identify the root cause.
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About this channel: Dr. Vikki Petersen, DC, CFMP, is founder of Root Cause Medical Clinic. Our team of licensed APRNs and clinicians provides functional medicine care focused on gut, hormone, and metabolic health. Educational videos are reviewed by licensed medical staff and based on current scientific research.