Medical Intel

A paraesophageal hernia can have symptoms as simple as acid reflux or feeling bloated after a small meal—or no signs at all. Dr. John Lazar, Director of Thoracic Robotics, discusses how we diagnose and treat paraesophageal hernias.   TRANSCRIPT Intro: MedStar Washington Hospital Center presents Medical Intel where our healthcare team shares health and wellness insights and gives you the inside story on advances in medicine. Host: Thanks for joining us today. We’re speaking with Dr. John Lazar, Director of Thoracic Robotics at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. Today we’re discussing benign esophageal diseases, a group of non-cancerous disorders in the esophagus, which is the tube that connects the throat to the stomach. Dr. Lazar, what are some of the benign esophageal diseases you see most often in your patient population? Dr. Lazar: I would say that the most common benign disease that we see is something called the paraesophageal hernia. And what that is, is that over time, the diaphragm weakens and the st