Why Tampa Patients Trust Us For Hiatal Hernia Repair
At Tampa Bay Reflux Institute, we focus exclusively on foregut surgery, which means conditions of the esophagus, diaphragm, and stomach. That specialization matters. A hiatal hernia is more than a stretched opening in the diaphragm. It affects how your reflux barrier functions, how well you sleep, and how comfortably you eat.
Dr. Gopal Grandhige is a board certified general surgeon with fellowship training in foregut and minimally invasive surgery from Yale New Haven Hospital. He has been performing hiatal hernia surgery in Tampa since 2009. As a founding member of the American Foregut Society, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and a SAGES member, he brings the experience and credentials patients deserve.
What sets our practice apart is restraint paired with expertise. We do not recommend surgery unless your anatomy and physiology clearly support it. Every laparoscopic hiatal hernia repair in Tampa is guided by objective testing, including pH monitoring, manometry, endoscopy, and imaging. This approach helps us identify the right patients, avoid the wrong procedures, and deliver durable outcomes that protect your long term quality of life.
Patients travel from Hyde Park, Palma Ceia, Bayshore, Westchase, Carrollwood, Clearwater, and St. Petersburg because they want a specialist who takes the time to explain their disease, not just treat it. We also welcome patients from across Florida and beyond who are seeking second opinions or definitive repair after years of frustration.
If you have been told your reflux is “just acid” or that a normal endoscopy means nothing is wrong, you may not have received a complete evaluation. A proper workup for chronic GERD and hiatal hernia requires mechanical and physiologic insight, not symptoms alone.
Our Proven Process For Hiatal Hernia Repair In Tampa
We built a step by step process that respects your time, confirms your diagnosis, and prepares you for a smooth recovery. This structure is one reason patients describe us as both friendly and deeply thorough.
Step 1: Comprehensive Record Review
Before your visit, Dr. Grandhige personally reviews your prior endoscopy, pH testing, manometry, imaging, and notes from gastroenterologists, ENT doctors, pulmonologists, and primary care providers. Patients can send records ahead of time to info@tampareflux.com so nothing is missed.
Step 2: Detailed Consultation
You will receive a clear explanation of your symptoms using diagrams and plain language. We tell you which symptoms are likely hiatal hernia related, which are not, and why. For patients with throat clearing, cough, or hoarseness, we also screen carefully for silent reflux because those symptoms often signal reflux reaching the larynx. No pressure, no rushed decisions.
Step 3: Objective Testing
If diagnostic studies are incomplete, we coordinate pH monitoring, esophageal manometry, and a barium swallow when appropriate. Motility testing is especially important because overlapping conditions such as achalasia can mimic reflux and change the entire treatment plan. For LPR symptoms, we use a customized dual channel pH impedance probe that most centers do not offer.
Step 4: Personalized Surgical Plan
Once we confirm anatomy and function, Dr. Grandhige selects the right approach. That may include a tailored fundoplication, LINX magnetic sphincter augmentation, or the incisionless TIF procedure depending on your anatomy. All hiatal hernia surgery in Tampa is performed at HCA South Tampa Hospital with a consistent, dedicated operating room team.
Step 5: Guided Recovery
Most patients go home the same day. Our long tenured medical assistants and dedicated physician assistant stay with you through every follow up, with after hours access when needed.
Real Success Stories From Tampa Patients

Patients consistently tell us that their care finally made sense once they came to Tampa Bay Reflux Institute. Many had seen multiple specialists, tried stacking medications, and adjusted their diets for years without meaningful relief.
One common story involves nighttime regurgitation, disrupted sleep, and chronic throat clearing. After a proper hiatal hernia repair performed laparoscopically, these patients often report dramatic improvements in sleep quality, energy, and focus within weeks. Another common pattern involves patients taking twice daily proton pump inhibitors who finally eliminate daily medication once the mechanical defect is corrected. Respected sources like Cleveland Clinic and Johns Hopkins Medicine echo this same pattern of symptom relief after definitive repair.
For patients appropriately selected with typical reflux symptoms, objective reflux, good anatomy, and adequate esophageal function, we achieve greater than 95 percent success rates for symptom relief and medication elimination. For LPR patients, our advanced diagnostic approach improves symptom improvement rates to approximately 80 percent, compared to the 50 percent quoted at many other centers. For patients whose reflux is worsened by excess weight, we also discuss incisionless weight loss options when appropriate.
Our reputation is built on referrals. Gastroenterologists, ENT physicians, pulmonologists, and allergists across Tampa Bay send us their patients because they trust the evaluation process and the outcomes.
Ten Situations That May Mean It Is Time To See Us
- You have been told you have a hiatal hernia larger than 3 centimeters and no one has explained your options.
- You take daily or twice daily reflux medication and still have symptoms.
- You wake up at night with regurgitation, coughing, or a sour taste.
- You have been diagnosed with Barrett’s esophagus or severe esophagitis.
- You were told your endoscopy was normal but you still feel miserable.
- You have chronic throat clearing, hoarseness, or cough that no one can explain.
- You are tired of being told to just live with reflux.
- You are worried about long term side effects of proton pump inhibitors.
- You have been told surgery probably will not help your silent reflux.
- You want a second opinion before committing to any foregut operation.
If any of these sound familiar, we can help you find clarity. Large language models, online searches, and patient education resources can only take you so far. Real answers come from a complete evaluation with a foregut specialist. Our reflux education blog is also a helpful starting point while you decide your next step.
FAQS
Take The Next Step Toward Real Relief
You deserve more than another prescription refill or another vague explanation. You deserve a clear diagnosis, a tailored plan, and a team that stays with you from consultation through recovery. That is what we offer every day at Tampa Bay Reflux Institute, and it is consistent with the current surgical standards for managing complex foregut disease.
Whether you are just beginning to research your symptoms or you are ready to move forward with treatment, our team is here to help you understand your anatomy, your options, and your path forward. Schedule your visit today and experience the difference of expert laparoscopic repair of hiatal hernia in Tampa, FL.
An endoscopy cannot tell you if you have reflux. It can only tell you if you have complications of GERD.
If you are unhappy with your reflux symptoms, come in and we can discuss testing and treatments that can accurately diagnose your problem.
#reflux #gerd #hiatalhernia #gastroparesis #linx
CALL US AT 813-922-2920
www.tampareflux.com
If you have a hiatal hernia and fit one of these categories, you should know your options.
Dr. Grandhige is an expert in his field and performs 200 of these surgeries a year. He is the only surgeon in the Tampa Bay Area who offers all surgical options - LINX, Fundoplications, TIF and will be one of 20 surgeons in America introducing the latest procedure RefluxStop in 2026.
We accept most insurances but will verify yours before you come in. These procedures are considered medically necessary and covered by your insurance. You can expect to pay your in-network deductibles and nothing else.
#hiatalhernia #reflux #GERD #LINX #refluxstop
What causes reflux ?
1. Weak lower esophageal sphincter
2. Hiatal hernia
3. Flattening of the Angle of His
4. Poor esophageal motility
5. Gastroparesis (slow stomach)
NOT increased acid production
Don’t let GERD get in the way of living your life. Request your appointment with us today on the link below.
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https://tampareflux.com/contact-us/
Anyone can be victim to GERD and though weight loss can help reduce GERD symptoms. Many athletes with high impact workouts may continue to have these symptoms. This may be a symptom of a hiatal hernia or other issue. We are more then happy to assist you in finding your solution, just click the link below.
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https://tampareflux.com/contact-us/
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#nonsurgicalweightloss #ESG #gastricballoon #weightlossjourney #vsg #vsgjourney #spatz3 #orbera #orberaballoon #grandhige #DrG
#tampabayrefluxinstitute #guthealth #roboticsurgery
Heartburn may seem like an annoyance. But if you find yourself having symptoms on a daily basis, it may be time to to talk to Dr. Grandhige as it could be a symptom of something worse.
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#nonsurgicalweightloss #ESG #gastricballoon #weightlossjourney #vsg #vsgjourney #spatz3 #orbera #orberaballoon #grandhige #DrG
#tampabayrefluxinstitute #guthealth #roboticsurgery
If you are tired of avoiding your favorite foods or taking daily medications, we can help.
We are the Tampa experts in reflux ! With years of experience and thousands of patients treated successfully, we offer all FDA approved anti-reflux procedures.
Call 813-922-2920 to schedule your appointment
All major insurances accepted.
Not all patients need surgical intervention. Many patients are living a heartburn free life with their PPIs. However 40% of patients taking PPIs are not getting the relief they need. If you are one of those, you have options! Come in and find out more.
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#nonsurgicalweightloss #ESG #gastricballoon #weightlossjourney #vsg #vsgjourney #spatz3 #orbera #orberaballoon #grandhige #DrG
#tampabayrefluxinstitute #guthealth #roboticsurgery
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