Laparoscopic Hiatal Hernia Repair in Patients with an Intrathoracic Pancreas: Case Series and a Review of Literature

Abstract

Transhiatal herniation of the pancreas is rare with only 17 cases reported in 25 years. Presentation of pancreatic herniation is diverse. In the majority of cases, the pancreatic herniation is found incidentally on CT-scans made for evaluating complaints related to a large or giant hiatal hernia. We present a literature review and case series of three patients with symptomatic type IV hiatal hernia with incidental, asymptomatic pancreatic herniation. All cases were managed laparoscopically with robotic assistance.

The uncommon diagnosis of hiatal hernia associated pancreatitis: A case report

“…But stretching of the transverse mesocolon due to increase in intra-abdominal pressure causes loosening of the posterior fascia resulting in pancreatic mobilization and herniation [7] . Pancreatic herniation is a rare occurrence, a review of the literature conducted in 2020, found 17 published cases of intrathoracic herniation of the pancreas [8] , [9] , with 12 cases occurring in or after the sixth decade of life, and with equal proportion of men and women [3] .…”