My Father Had Paraesophagol Hernia Surgery This Past Monday

Posted on Sat, 3 Oct 2020

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 3 Oct 2020 Answered on

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 Last reviewed on

Question : Hi my father had paraesophagol hernia surgery this past Monday.

Follow up: Dr. T Chandrakant (13 minutes later)

My father had Paraesophageal hernia surgery (Da Vinci Method) this past Monday. After a couple of days he has started coughing again with regurgitation of phlegm. One of the reasons he had the operation was that he was constantly coughing and sneezing. He is going to call his Dr on Monday but in the meantime could you let us know if this is normal? The whole point of the surgery was to help with these symptoms. He had a mesh band put in as well to control the reflux. If you need more details please let me know. Thank you.

Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Can be a primary cause in respiratory system

Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for your query.
Noted the history about your Father undergoing robotic para-esophageal hernia surgery last Monday, started coughing again with regurgitation of phlegm.
Coughing can be due to different reasons:
GERD is known to cause.
Primary respiratory tract condition considering the age of your Father can be the reason for coughing. Coughing in turn can cause regurgitation of phlegm.
The presence of phlegm itself may indicate towards this cause.
Diaphragm has a sensitive part and mesh bad being a foreign body may cause irritation causing such symptoms.
I would advise him steam inhalation/ Nebulization.
Take cough suppressants if your Doctors allow.
Propped position helps a lot.
X-ray of chest.
Relevant tests of blood.
These are my thoughts considering the history you have provided.

Please give feedback and ask for further relevant queries if you feel that there is a gap of communication.

Dr T Chandrakant

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T