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[Speaker: Dr. Tony Vine.]
[Visual: Dr. Vine in his medical office speaking to the camera.]
[Music: Soft, inspirational music begins.]
Hi, I'm Dr. Tony Vine. I'm a laparoscopic
surgeon, so I do minimally invasive surgery,
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[Visual: Illustration of the digestive tract.]
involving the intestinal tract all the way
from the esophagus down to the anus.
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[Visual: Dr. Vine walking through the hallway of his
medical practice and into his office.]
How I came to medicine was really through my father.
I asked him if he wanted me to take over his dental practice.
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[Visual: Photo of Dr. Vine smiling with his elderly father.]
And he said to me, “For the four years that you go to dental school,
you may as well go to medical school and learn the whole thing.”
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[Visual: Photo of Dr. Vine standing wearing blue scrubs.
Then, Dr. Vine speaking to the camera.]
I have been practicing medicine for approximately
30 years.
00:00:38.000 --> 00:00:47.000
[Visual: Photo of Dr. Vine with former classmates
at Vanderbilt Medical School.]
I graduated from Vanderbilt Medical School in 1989, and started
at Mount Sinai for my residency in that same year…
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[Visual: Back to Dr. Vine speaking directly to
the camera]
…and did two years of research in the middle of
my residency at Massachusetts General Hospital.
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[Visual: Mount Sinai graduation photo of
Dr. Vine with classmates and professors.]
Came back to Sinai in 1994 and graduated
as a chief resident from there in 1996…
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[Visual: Photo of Dr. Vine performing surgery in blue scrubs.]
…and immediately started work in July of 1996.
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[Visual: Dr. Vine, smiling and speaking to the
camera, then a photo of Dr. Vine playing violin in green scrubs.]
In my spare time,
whatever little there may be of it,
you can find me practicing my violin.
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[Visual: Video of Dr. Vine at desk.]
[Visual: Then, photos of Dr. Vine with NY State Senators.]
You might find me preparing for a meeting
with a New York State Senator for lobby day.
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[Visual: Photo of Dr. Vine with one of
his chief residents.]
You might find me teaching the
medical students and residents.
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[Visual: Photo of Dr. Vine with a chief resident.]
I think that my humanistic background,
having been an English major in college,
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[Visual: Video of Dr. Vine playing with the orchestra.
Music: Background music fades out.
Sound of Dr. Vine playing the violin begins.]
being a violinist, I feel that I come to medicine
with more of a humanistic, compassionate approach.
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[Visual: Dr. Vine speaking to camera.
Music: Violin music fades out.
Original background music resumes softly.]
I really try and treat my patients as if they were my family members.
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[Visual: Fade to black.
Music fades out.]
Laparoscopic Hiatal Hernia and Anti-Reflux Surgery
Laparoscopy hiatal hernia surgery is a minimally invasive procedure that Dr. Anthony Vine performs to successfully repair a hiatal hernia. This is a condition in which a portion of the stomach protrudes through an opening in the diaphragm, called the esophageal hiatus, and then pushes into the chest cavity.
Do All Hiatal Hernias Require Surgery?
No, hiatal hernias do not always require surgery. Some do not cause symptoms and therefore don’t require treatment. Hiatal hernias that cause only mild symptoms of GERD or heartburn, can often be treated with medication and lifestyle changes.
However, if symptoms are severe, a laparoscopic hiatal hernia procedure may be necessary.
What This Procedure Involves
During the procedure, Dr. Vine makes a tiny incision and inserts a tool called a trocar, which is similar to a hollow, small pen into the abdomen or pelvis, each less than a quarter or half inch long. Once in place, Dr. Vine uses this trocar to insert various surgical tools into the abdomen, whether it be a tiny laparoscope, a device with a camera and light, or instruments as listed below. The camera offers a magnified view inside the abdominal cavity on a video monitor. The abdomen is inflated through the trocar with carbon dioxide. Other small tools inserted through the tube during the procedure include small scissors, graspers, coagulators, and suturing devices.
What’s Next?
- Dr. Vine then identifies the herniated portion of the stomach protruding through the esophageal hiatus of the diaphragm.
- He gently guides it into the correct position within the abdominal cavity.
- The esophageal hiatus is then closed with sutures and may be reinforced with mesh.
Anti-Reflux Surgery
Laparoscopic hiatal hernia surgery is often followed by a minimally invasive procedure called a Nissen Fundoplication. This treats and prevents acid reflux by wrapping the top of the stomach around the esophagus, strengthening the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). This technique creates a valve preventing stomach acid from flowing back up into the esophagus.
Benefits of Laparoscopic Surgery
- Less invasive – tiny incisions cause minimal damage to surrounding tissue and less blood loss.
- Minimal pain – smaller wounds mean little discomfort and less anesthesia needed.
- Barely visible scars – small incisions heal with little to no scarring.
- Faster recovery – patients heal more quickly than with open surgery, returning to their daily routine sooner.
- Ambulatory procedure – the majority of patients return home the same day. Occasionally an overnight stay is required.
- Lower risk of infection – smaller incisions reduce the chance of infection.
- Greater accuracy – the laparoscope provides a clear, magnified view for precise surgery.
For more information on the different types of hernias and symptoms, please visit our Hernia page.
Dr. Anthony Vine is an Attending Surgeon and Clinical Professor of Surgery at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital. His office is located at 1010 5th Avenue at the Laparoscopic Surgical Center of New York.