BACKGROUND: Parahiatal hernias present a hernial orifice at the diaphragm that is adjacent to the esophageal hiatus, differing from the paraesophageal type of hiatal hernias. Although diagnostic imaging has advanced in recent years, diagnosing parahiatal hernias remains challenging. We herein report a case in which we performed laparoscopic surgery and intraoperatively diagnosed a parahiatal hernia.
METHODS: A 67-year-old man presented to our hospital with difficulty eating, epigastric pain, and vomiting. We suspected a paraesophageal hiatal hernia. Laparoscopic surgery was performed, and a diagnosis of parahiatal hernia was made. We closed the hernial orifice with direct simple closure using nonabsorbable threads. The patient\'s postoperative recovery course was reasonable, and he was discharged on the twelfth postoperative day.
CONCLUSIONS: Parahiatal hernias are rare, and a definitive diagnosis is difficult. Laparoscopic surgery can help accurately diagnose and treat patients presenting with the condition.

True parahiatal hernia is a type of diaphragmatic hernia in which herniation occurs through a defect in the diaphragm, adjacent to the normal oesophageal hiatus. Its reported incidence is very rare, and it is commonly misdiagnosed as paraoesophageal hernia. Although the clinical distinction between paraoesophageal and parahiatal hernia is difficult, it is essential to recognise these two separate entities clinically as their management differs. Clinical presentation of parahiatal hernia includes symptoms related to gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Patients may also present emergently with symptoms of respiratory distress and chest symptoms. With that in mind, we describe a compelling case of a young lady who initially presented with symptoms suggestive of acute coronary syndrome. However, she was found to have an incarcerated parahiatal hernia.

UNASSIGNED: A parahiatal hernia (PH) is a rare diaphragmatic hernia (DH) adjacent to but separated from the esophageal hiatus. The surgical repair for PH needs primary suture closure or complicated hernioplasty and the addition of an anti-reflux procedure. This report describes a case of PH with a symptomatic esophageal hiatal hernia managed using three-dimensional (3D) laparoscopy.
METHODS: A 65-year-old woman with back pain and breathlessness was referred to our hospital for a DH. Computed tomography showed a diaphragmatic defect on the left side of the esophageal hiatus. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and 24-hour esophageal impedance-pH monitoring showed a symptomatic esophageal hiatal hernia. Laparoscopic repair for both hernias was performed using 3D laparoscopy. The DH orifice was located in the left crus of the diaphragm, and it was separated from the esophageal hiatus. These findings showed that this DH was a PH. The PH was repaired with primary suturing, and a hiatoplasty was performed. Toupet fundoplication was performed with a 270° posterior wrap of the gastric fornix. The patient has remained asymptomatic a year after surgery without any complications.
UNASSIGNED: 3D laparoscopy provides significant advantages in surgeries requiring precise suturing. PH repairs require complex procedures, including mesh repair or suturing. Approximately 44 % of PH cases also necessitate fundoplication. 3D laparoscopy was useful for the present case.
CONCLUSIONS: A rare PH and a symptomatic type 1 hiatal hernia were repaired with 3D laparoscopy, which is helpful for PH treatment in cases requiring complicated procedures.

BACKGROUND: The parahiatal hernia is a rare type of diaphragmatic hernia in adults. Although there have been occasional reports of parahiatal hernias, few have reported simultaneous laparoscopic mesh repair of a parahiatal hernia with a hiatal hernia. This report describes laparoscopic mesh repair and fundoplication for a parahiatal hernia combined with an esophageal hiatal hernia.
METHODS: A 39-year-old woman presented with left-side postprandial abdominal pain. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed a parahiatal hernia and sliding hiatal hernia. Computed tomography (CT) showed that the stomach had prolapsed into the thorax from the outside of the left diaphragm. The preoperative diagnosis was parahiatal hernia with a hernial sac complicated by sliding hiatal hernia. Laparoscopic mesh repair was planned. The stomach had prolapsed on the left side of the esophagus and was extruded. The diagnosis of a parahiatal hernia with a hernial sac complicated by a sliding hiatal hernia was confirmed. The esophageal hiatal hernia was repaired using two non-absorbable sutures. The congenital defect was further reinforced with mesh fixed to the orifice of the adjacent parahiatal hernia. We performed Toupet fundoplication to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease and sutured the right diaphragmatic crus and stomach to prevent migration. The patient was discharged home on postoperative day 5.
CONCLUSIONS: We encountered a patient with a parahiatal hernia complicated by a sliding hiatal hernia. The parahiatal hernia can be diagnosed by CT imaging. Preoperative diagnostic imaging can lead to appropriate treatment.

Type II hiatal hernias (HH) are characterized by a portion of the gastric fundus located above the esophageal hiatus adjacent to the esophagus while the gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) remains fixed below the esophageal hiatus. This type of HH has been called the \"true\" paraesophageal hernia (PEH) because the fundus appears to the side of the esophagus. In our experience, Type II HHs are occasionally identified on radiographic testing, however they are rarely, if ever, confirmed intraoperatively. This led to our question: Does Type II HH exist?
We searched for evidence of type II HH in three locations: 1. Retrospective review of all first-time PEH repairs (excluding Type I HHs and re-operative cases) performed at the University of Washington Medical Center from 1994 to 2021; 2. Operative videos available on YouTube and WebSurg websites; and 3. Abstracts from the SAGES annual meetings from 2005 to 2021.
We found no evidence of Type II HH in any of our three searches. We performed 846 PEH repairs: 760 Type III, 75 Type IV, and 11 parahiatal. Upon website video review, we found only one possible type II hernia, though it too was likely a para-hiatal hernia. No video or case presentations of a type II HH were identified within SAGES annual meeting abstracts.
Type II HHs do not exist as they are currently defined. Although uncommon, parahiatal hernia can easily be misinterpreted as Type II HH. We should consider changing the hiatal hernia classification system to prevent ongoing clinical confusion.

Parahiatal hernia is a less common form of diaphragmatic hernia, with the defect lateral to the crus and oesophageal hiatus, and the unfamiliarity of this disease would cause confusion to general surgeons. In the present study, the literature on parahiatal hernia were reviewed, the clinical profile of this disease, as well as our own experience is presented and analysed.
In the present study, a thorough identification of all published reports on parahiatal hernias was made, together with our own cases, the available data were summarized, analysed and discussed.
A total of 27 cases of parahiatal hernias were identified since 1987. Among them, 19 cases were primary parahiatal hernias, and eight cases were secondary or acquired parahiatal hernias. None of the 27 cases were pre-operatively diagnosed, and the majority of them were pre-operatively diagnosed as paraoesophageal hernias. Detailed treatment data were available in 26 of the 27 cases. Three patients received open surgery, and 23 patients were treated with laparoscopic procedures. Suture repair was used in 12 cases, and 14 cases were repaired with mesh reinforcement. In addition, two cases underwent partial gastrectomy, stomach suture was performed in another two cases.
Patients with parahiatal hernia have a high risk of developing hernia incarceration or gastric vovulus. Laparoscopic treatment of parahiatal hernia is feasible and safe in the majority cases. Surgeons should be aware of this disease when performing paraoesophageal hernia repair, as parahiatal hernias may occur with or without previous diaphragmatic surgery.

BACKGROUND: Diaphragmatic hernia is a potential complication of esophagectomy, which usually occurs as a hiatal hernia and more frequently after minimally invasive esophagectomy. Parahiatal hernia is a rare form of diaphragmatic hernia, and to the best of our knowledge, parahiatal hernia after esophagectomy has not been previously reported. Here, we report a case of parahiatal hernia after esophagectomy that was successfully managed laparoscopically.
METHODS: A 73-year-old man underwent thoracoscopic esophagectomy for esophageal cancer with gastric tube reconstruction via the posterior mediastinum. Postoperative morbidity was ileus, which required conservative treatment, and intestinal obstruction for which operation with laparotomy was necessary. He was admitted with abdominal pain and vomiting at 15 months after esophagectomy. Abdominal X-ray revealed colon gas in the intrathoracic space. A barium enema examination showed a transverse colon incarcerated in the intrathoracic space. The patient was preoperatively diagnosed with hiatal hernia after esophagectomy, and laparoscopic hernia repair was performed. During the surgery, the hiatus was found to be intact, and the defect was clearly separated from the left crus of the diaphragm. Parahiatal hernia was the operative diagnosis. The incarcerated colon was repositioned in the abdominal cavity, and the defect was repaired using a composite mesh.
CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic surgery was found to be effective for the diagnosis and repair of parahiatal hernia.

BACKGROUND: As an advanced minimally invasive surgical procedure, the repair of the diaphragmatic hernia may sometimes be very challenging especially when the anatomy is unclear.
METHODS: We are presenting a rare case of a parahiatal hernia defect repair where the understanding of the anatomy was complicated by the presence of an unusual large sized left inferior phrenic artery. The Da Vinci surgical platform was used to perform the entire procedure. Hernia sac dissection, identification of the crura, primary closure of the defect, and use of biologic mesh reinforcement were the main steps performed in the usual manner for hernia repair. In addition, the use of intraoperative ultrasound was of great utility to clarify the vascular anatomy.
RESULTS: The additional time required for the intraoperative ultrasound and identification of the vascular anatomy has increased the duration of the procedure that otherwise was uneventful. The accurate identification of the anatomy allowed for a safe surgical outcome. The postoperative course was favorable and patient was free of symptoms at 1-month follow-up.
CONCLUSIONS: The challenge of the repair of this rare, parahiatal type of diaphragmatic hernia where a large sized left inferior phrenic artery was also encountered was successfully mitigated by the use of the intraoperative Doppler ultrasound and by compliance with the basic steps of the procedure.

BACKGROUND: Surgery for liver metastases in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (PNET) improves overall survival rate. We present the first case report for robotic multivisceral resection of distal pancreas, spleen, and left liver for metastatic PNET.
METHODS: We present a case of 52-year-old female diagnosed with PNET in the pancreatic neck metastatic to the liver, responding to somatostatin and bland embolization, who underwent surgical debulking using da Vinci robotic platform. Intraoperative Doppler ultrasound was used to define the vascular distribution and tumor extension. The parenchymal liver transection was performed with vessel sealer. The distal pancreas and the spleen were approached medial to lateral and resected in an en-bloc fashion. The left liver inflow, outflow, and splenic artery and vein were transected with vascular stapler device.
RESULTS: Da Vinci robot-assisted multivisceral resection has been performed with good postoperative outcome. Operative time was 369 minutes and the estimated blood loss was 100 mL. The patient had a short hospital stay with quick recovery and good outcome at 5 months follow-up after the surgery.
CONCLUSIONS: Liver metastases in PNETs are considered an adverse factor. Aggressive surgical management is a mainstay. The laparoscopic approach to pancreatic or hepatic surgery is difficult in inexperienced hands with steep learning curve. The recent robotic system seems to overcome many limitations. This is the first case of robotic multivisceral resection for synchronous liver metastasis from PNET. Concurrent primary tumor resection with hepatectomy offers potential curative intention.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of hiatal hernias and para-oesophageal hernias (PEHs) is lower in Asian populations than in Western populations. Progressive herniation can result in giant PEHs, which are associated with significant morbidity. This article presents the experience of an Asian acute care tertiary hospital in the management of giant PEH and parahiatal hernia.
METHODS: Surgical records dated between January 2003 and January 2013 from the Department of Surgery, Changi General Hospital, Singapore, were retrospectively reviewed.
RESULTS: Ten patients underwent surgical repair for giant PEH or parahiatal hernia during the study period. Open surgery was performed for four patients with giant PEH who presented emergently, while elective laparoscopic repair was performed for six patients with either giant PEH or parahiatal hernia (which were preoperatively diagnosed as PEH). Anterior 180° partial fundoplication was performed in eight patients, and mesh reinforcement was used in six patients. The electively repaired patients had minimal or no symptoms during presentation. Gastric volvulus was observed in five patients. There were no cases of mortality. The median follow-up duration was 16.3 months. There were no cases of mesh erosion, complaints of dysphagia or recurrence of PEH in all patients.
CONCLUSIONS: Giant PEH and parahiatal hernia are underdiagnosed in Asia. Most patients with giant PEH or parahiatal hernia are asymptomatic; they often present emergently or are incidentally diagnosed. Although surgical outcomes are favourable even with a delayed diagnosis, there should be greater emphasis on early diagnosis and elective repair of these hernias.