Abstract：To investigate the clinical effects of the laparoscopic tension-free repair of the esophageal hiatal hernia using meshes, from August 2006 to April 2009, 40 patients with esophageal hiatal hernia were treated by ultrasonic scalpel under laparoscopy to isolate esophageal hiatal hernia, which was then repaired using meshes. Toupet partial fundop lication was performed. For all patients, the laparoscope tension-free repair was successfully performed (13 of type I, 4 of type II, 15 of type III and 8 of type IV). All patients have the symptoms of heartburn and regurgitation; for some patients the symptoms are accompanied with nausea, vomit and dysphagia. The operation lasts 90min in average (70～170min) with the blood loss between 10~210mL. No case of death. 10 patients were completely recovered after the operation. The mean postoperative hospital stay was 5d(3～30d). The patients were followed up for 3～25 months (12 months in average), no case of recurrence of the hernia, and no complication with regards to the use of meshes. Laparoscopic mesh of tension-free prosthesis is shown to be a secure and minimally invasive operation for esophageal herination, with a very small recurrence rate.
2010, Vol. 28 
