“This minimally invasive approach is as effective as open transabdominal repair, with easier recovery, less preoperative pain and shorter hospital stays," said Dr. William S. Richardson.
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) May 29, 2013
The Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons today issued Guidelines for the Management of Hiatal Hernia. The guidelines are a series of systematically developed statements to assist physicians’ and patients’ decisions about the appropriate use of laparoscopic surgery for this condition.
Hiatal hernia is a condition in which part of the stomach sticks upward into the chest, through an opening in the diaphragm. “Laparoscopic repair is the preferred approach for the majority of hiatal hernias,” said Dr. William S. Richardson, head of general surgery and director of laparoscopic surgery at the Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans and chair of the SAGES Guidelines Committee. “This minimally invasive approach is as effective as open transabdominal repair, with easier recovery, less preoperative pain and shorter hospital stays. Additionally, the smaller incisions of minimally-invasive surgery are less likely to be complicated by incisional hernias and wound infection,” Dr. Richardson said.
Hiatal hernias are very common, especially in people over 50 years old. Causes are unknown, but hiatal hernias may be due to a weakening of the supporting tissue. Known risk factors in adults include obesity, smoking and increasing age.
SAGES has been at the forefront of best practices in laparoscopic surgery by researching, developing and disseminating the guidelines and training for standards of practice in surgical procedures. SAGES Guidelines are developed under the auspices of the organization and its various committees, and approved by the Board of Governors. Each clinical practice guideline has been systematically researched, reviewed and revised by the Guidelines Committee and also evaluated by an appropriate multidisciplinary team. Guidelines are scheduled for periodic review to allow incorporation of pertinent new developments in medical research knowledge, and practice.
Additional SAGES guidelines to be released this year include Laparoscopic Ventral Hernia and Laparoscopic Surgery for Peritoneal Dialysis.
About SAGES
The mission of the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) is to improve quality patient care through education, research, innovation and leadership, principally in gastrointestinal and endoscopic surgery. SAGES is a leading surgical society, representing a worldwide community of over 6,000 surgeons that can bring minimal access surgery, endoscopy and emerging techniques to patients worldwide. The organization sets the clinical and educational guidelines on standards of practice in various procedures, critical to enhancing patient safety and health.