Paraesophageal Hiatal Hernia Surgery In Tampa, FL

At Tampa Bay Reflux Institute, we do one thing, and we do it exceptionally well. Our practice focuses exclusively on benign conditions of the esophagus, diaphragm, and stomach, including paraesophageal hiatal hernias, GERD, LPR, achalasia, and gastroparesis. Founded by Dr. Gopal Grandhige in 2022, the institute is the evolution of more than 16 years of dedicated foregut surgical care in the Tampa Bay area.

Dr. Grandhige is a board-certified general surgeon, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and a founding member of the American Foregut Society. His training includes Johns Hopkins, the University of Michigan Medical School, and a fellowship in foregut and minimally invasive surgery at Yale, New Haven Hospital.

A paraesophageal hiatal hernia is more than discomfort. When the stomach or other organs slip upward through the diaphragm, the body’s natural reflux barrier mechanically fails. According to Mayo Clinic, medications may quiet symptoms, but they cannot rebuild anatomy. That is where surgical repair becomes essential, especially for hernias larger than three centimeters, which often progress and can lead to serious complications such as gastric volvulus.

We believe patients deserve clarity before action. Every evaluation starts with a careful review of your records, imaging, and prior testing, followed by a conversation that demystifies what is actually happening inside your body. You leave understanding your diagnosis, your options, and the reasoning behind every recommendation.

Successful hiatal hernia repair is the result of careful decision-making long before the operating room. Our process is built on objective data, not guesswork.

Before you ever walk into the office, Dr. Grandhige personally reviews your endoscopy reports, imaging, manometry, pH studies, and prior operative notes. He also reads through specialist notes from your gastroenterologist, ENT, pulmonologist, or primary care doctor.

Using visual diagrams, Dr. Grandhige explains how your hiatus has weakened, how anatomy contributes to your symptoms, and which complaints are likely related to the hernia. As Johns Hopkins Medicine explains, hiatal hernias vary widely in size and severity, which is why a tailored evaluation matters. You will hear which symptoms surgery can realistically resolve and which may require a different approach.

When indicated, we use pH monitoring, esophageal manometry, and dynamic barium swallow studies. This testing helps us match the correct procedure to your anatomy and physiology, dramatically reducing the risk of post-surgical side effects.

Paraesophageal hernia repair is highly individualized. Depending on your motility, hernia size, and goals, the plan may include fundoplication, LINX, TIF, or a combination tailored to you. Beginning in 2026, RefluxStop will also be available, making this the only practice in Tampa Bay offering all four anti-reflux procedures.

All surgeries are performed laparoscopically or robotically at HCA South Tampa Hospital with the same dedicated operating room team and Dr. Grandhige’s own physician assistant assisting every case.

Patients consistently describe their experience as the first time reflux and hernia disease was actually explained to them. Referring physicians across Tampa Bay, including gastroenterologists, ENTs, pulmonologists, and primary care doctors, send their most complex cases here.

“I had been on medication for years and finally had answers. The drawings, the time, the honesty, it changed everything.” Patient testimonial, Tampa Bay Reflux Institute

Dr. Grandhige is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, a member of SAGES, and a founding member of the American Foregut Society. Surgeries are performed at HCA South Tampa Hospital, where over 95 percent of appropriately selected patients achieve significant symptom relief and elimination of daily reflux medications. You can also explore patient education and surgical insights on our blog.

• You feel food or acid coming back up at night and waking you from sleep
• You have been told your hiatal hernia is larger than three centimeters and growing
• You take twice-daily proton pump inhibitors and still feel reflux symptoms
• You experience chest pressure or shortness of breath after meals
• You have trouble swallowing certain foods or feel things getting stuck
• You have been diagnosed with Barrett’s esophagus or severe esophagitis
• You feel constant throat clearing, hoarseness, or a chronic cough
• Your endoscopy was “normal,” but your symptoms are not
• You want to stop relying on daily medication for the rest of your life
• You have seen multiple specialists without a clear answer or plan