The Evolving Clinical Trajectory From a Sliding Hiatus Hernia to Mixed Sliding and Para-Oesophageal Subtype: A Case Report

We present a compelling case of a patient initially diagnosed with a simple sliding hiatus hernia (HH), which was managed conservatively through optimised medical therapy. Over the span of a few years, she developed new symptoms which included epigastric discomfort and pain, prompting further clinical review and imaging investigation. These revealed the progression of her HH from a simple form to a more complex rolling or para-oesophageal type. This outcome highlights the importance of recognising a potential for progression during the clinical assessment of patients with a history of reflux symptoms and the onset of new epigastric discomfort or pain. Understanding this continuum of HHs is essential for physicians as management plans may need to switch from a conservative to a more invasive approach.