Prevalence and resolution of anemia with paraesophageal hernia repair.

<bold>Background: </bold>Paraesophageal hernias may produce a variety of clinical sequelae including anemia and esophagogastric ulcerations or erosions. We examined the prevalence of anemia in patients with paraesophageal hernias and frequency of anemia resolution with hernia repair.<bold>Methods: </bold>Patients undergoing paraesophageal hernia repairs from July 1996 to September 2010 were included. Data gathered included age, gender, type of hernia, presence of symptomatic anemia, presence of esophagogastric ulcer/erosion, type of repair, and anemia resolution.<bold>Results: </bold>One hundred eighty-three patients underwent paraesophageal hernia repair; of these, 68 (37%) were anemic. Of these anemic patients, 39 (57%) were symptomatic from their anemia or specifically referred for anemia, and 20 (29%) had esophagogastric ulceration/erosion. Fifty-eight had documented follow-up. Overall, of these, 35 (60%) had resolution of their anemia. Seventy percent of symptomatic patients had resolution of their anemia, compared to 48% of asymptomatic patients (p = 0.1). Of patients with esophagogastric ulceration/erosion, 85% were symptomatic and 88% had resolution of anemia, compared to 50% of patients without ulceration/erosion (p = 0.015).<bold>Conclusions: </bold>Anemia was a common finding in patients with paraesophageal hernia and most patients were symptomatic because of their anemia. Those patients with esophageal or gastric ulceration/erosion were very likely to have symptomatic anemia, and, interestingly, these patients were more likely to have their anemia resolve with paraesophageal hernia repair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]