Can a person with a hiatus hernia have the Orbera fitted?

A large hiatal hernia is a contraindication to Orbera. The cutoff for "large" in this case is 5cm. This means that 5cm (or more) of your upper stomach is sliding above your diaphragm, which is the definition of a hiatal hernia. For patients who are seeking an Orbera balloon and have a known hiatal hernia, we will try to obtain a copy of any prior X-ray tests or endoscopy reports, so that we can determine the size. For patients without a known hernia, we perform a diagnostic endoscopy at the time of Orbera placement. This allows us to identify a hiatal hernia. 
It is also worth mentioning that if you have had a hiatal hernia repair (called a Nissen Fundoplication), you also cannot have an Orbera balloon, as there is an increased risk of complications. 

The short answer is yes, the Orbera balloon can be placed if you have a sliding hiatal hernia. However, the specific characteristics of the sliding hiatal hernia need to be assessed in order to determine if placement of a balloon is possible. Best of luck

The muscle that you breathe with, your diaphragm, has a hole in it that your esophagus traverses as it goes from your mouth to your stomach. The medical term for this hole is the "esophageal hiatus." When the esophageal hiatus is larger than it should be, your stomach can ride up into your chest, which is defined as a hiatal hernia. Large hiatal hernias are a contraindication for Orbera intragastric balloon. Your doctor may need to do surveillance endoscopy to evaluate the size of your hiatal hernia before she can advise you if you are a candidate for Orbera.