A hernia is a fairly common condition and many people have one. Here we will discuss two types of hernias: a regular hernia and a hiatal hernia. A regular hernia is simply a protrusion of a part of an organ or a loop or part of the intestines through an opening in the lining that holds that part of the body. This is usually a hole or opening in the abdominal wall and this can be caused by a number of situations, including a tear in the wall, an unhealed surgical incision, or an opening in the groin area, inguinal area, or near the artery that supplies blood to the thigh. A common type of hernia is one in which part of the bowel or intestines protrude through a hole or pocket of the peritoneum, which is the lining of the abdominal wall.
When a person has a hernia, particularly one in which it is part of the intestinal tract that is protruding through the lining in the abdomen, there is a very real danger of gas becoming trapped in that section of the intestines. If this happens while diving, then on ascent the diver can experience a rupture of the bowel in that section and this can cause damage and blood loss to that section of the intestine. For this reason, a person with an untreated hernia should not dive. Treatment for a hernia requires surgery and there should be ample healing time after surgery of at least six to eight weeks.
A hiatal hernia is slightly different. This is a condition in which part of the stomach protrudes into the chest cavity and there are two types of hiatal hernias to discuss, each with different concerns when it comes to diving. The first type of hiatal hernia is called a sliding hiatal hernia and this occurs when the upper part of the stomach actually slides up into the space that is occupied by the esophagus. This is an extremely common form of hiatal hernia and often causes gastrointestinal reflux, although it often has no symptoms at all. The second type of hiatal hernia is called a paraesophageal hiatal hernia and this occurs when the stomach protrudes through an opening in the diaphragm.
For a sliding hiatal hernia, there should be treatment for the gastrointestinal reflux, but otherwise there is no reason why a person with this type of hiatal hernia cannot dive. Gastrointestinal reflux can cause a person to bring up stomach acid or food that can then be aspirated into the regulator or lungs and can cause death. When it comes to a paraesophageal hiatal hernia, the part of the stomach that protrudes through the diaphragm can become trapped and can rupture as the diver ascends. For this reason, a person who has a paraesophageal hiatal hernia should not dive.
Some people who have a hiatal hernia have it surgically repaired. This may allow them to dive, but some people who have this surgical repair done then suffer from something called gas-bloat syndrome in which gas gets trapped in the stomach, causing distension of the stomach. This results from the inability of the person to release gas trapped in the stomach by way of belching. If a person has the gas-bloat syndrome and dives, gas caught may cause a rupture on ascent. Fortunately, this is a condition that usually goes away within a few weeks of surgery, but during this time a person should not dive. If the problem persists, then diving may have to be avoided indefinitely.
As you can see, a hernia of any kind creates a situation in which gas can be trapped in a portion of the body, either the intestinal tract or the stomach, and this trapped gas can cause a rupture as the diver ascends and the pressure changes with that ascent. This can cause internal bleeding and is a situation that is extremely dangerous for a diver, possibly causing loss of life. Sadly, even if a person has a strong love of diving, diving with an untreated hernia or an untreated hiatal hernia is not recommended. It is crucial that you take care of the condition, get the treatment that you need, and allow yourself the time to heal. Once you do that there is a very high chance that you will be able to dive again.