Oesophagus & hiatus
Surgery of the region where the oesophagus meets the stomach — from gastro-oesophageal junction tumours to functional disorders of the hiatus: hiatal hernia, reflux disease and achalasia. All approached minimally invasively, through a few millimetre incisions.
A small area, two kinds of problem
The point where the oesophagus passes through the diaphragm and empties into the stomach — the hiatus — can be the site of two categories of condition, treated differently.
Junction tumours
Tumours at the border between oesophagus and stomach require a precise surgical strategy, often integrated into a multimodal plan with oncology. Here, experience in upper GI surgery and the minimally invasive approach make the difference.
A hiatus that no longer does its job
When the mechanism keeping food and acid “in place” fails, hiatal hernia, reflux or — conversely — achalasia appears. These are benign conditions, but they can seriously affect quality of life and have highly effective surgical solutions.
Minimally invasive precision
The narrow space of the hiatus is where the precision of laparoscopic and robotic surgery matters most — every structure counts.
When to see a doctor
Some symptoms seem trivial — “heartburn” or “a lump in the throat” — but when they persist, they deserve to be investigated.
Heartburn & reflux
A burning sensation behind the breastbone, acid regurgitation, especially at night or after meals.
Difficulty swallowing
A sense that food gets stuck or goes down with difficulty (dysphagia) — a sign not to be ignored.
Chest pain
Pain or pressure behind the breastbone, sometimes mistaken for a heart problem.
Regurgitation
Return of undigested food into the mouth, especially in achalasia.
Cough & hoarseness
Chronic cough, hoarseness or a lump-in-the-throat sensation caused by reflux.
Weight loss
Weight loss due to difficulty eating — a sign to be assessed promptly.
Beware of dysphagia: difficulty swallowing that gets progressively worse, especially with weight loss, must always be investigated promptly with an upper GI endoscopy. In the vast majority of cases the cause is benign — but this is exactly the test that confirms it.
Tests that show exactly what is happening
Hiatus disorders are assessed with a set of complementary tests that measure both anatomy and function.
Upper GI endoscopy
Visualises the lining of the oesophagus and stomach, assesses hiatal hernia and reflux injury, and allows biopsy where needed.
Oesophageal manometry
Measures the pressures and movements of the oesophagus — the key test for diagnosing achalasia and for correctly planning anti-reflux surgery.
pH monitoring / impedance
Confirms and quantifies acid reflux over 24 hours — useful when symptoms do not clearly correlate with injury.
Barium swallow & CT
Contrast X-ray outlines the hernia and the dynamics of the oesophagus; CT completes staging in the case of tumours.
Minimally invasive solutions, matched to the problem
For each hiatus condition there is a well-defined operation, performed laparoscopically or robotically, with fast recovery.
Hiatal hernia repair & fundoplication
Repositioning the stomach in the abdomen, repairing the hiatus and creating an anti-reflux “valve” (fundoplication) — the durable solution for reflux that does not respond to medication.
Heller myotomy
Controlled division of the over-tight muscle fibres at the base of the oesophagus, restoring normal passage of food, with an associated anti-reflux valve.
Minimally invasive oncological resection
Removal of the tumour with safe margins and lymphadenectomy, integrated into a multimodal plan — the approach tailored to the exact junction location.
Laparoscopic & robotic
The precision of the da Vinci Xi system is especially valuable in the narrow space of the hiatus. About robotic surgery →
Benign conditions — but with a real impact on life
Reflux, hiatal hernia and achalasia are not cancer — but untreated they can seriously affect sleep, eating and, over time, the lining of the oesophagus.
The good news: minimally invasive hiatus surgery is one of the most rewarding areas of digestive surgery — durable results, fast recovery and, for many patients, freedom from a lifetime of daily medication.
Discuss your optionsSurgery of the gastro-oesophageal junction
A demanding anatomical region, where the precision of the minimally invasive approach and experience in upper GI surgery are decisive.
experience
console surgeon
invasive
& robotic
decision
The first step is a conversation.
International patients welcome. Begin with a remote second opinion — share your records and receive an honest assessment of your options.
Request a second opinion international@drvalentincalu.ro International office · Bucharest