ObjectiveTo analyze the effect and prognosis of laparoscopic patch repair of esophageal hiatal hernia.MethodsFrom October 2014 to January 2019, 100 patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease undergoing laparoscopic esophageal hiatus hernia repair were randomly divided into the patch group and the non-patch group. All patients underwent laparoscopic repair of esophageal hiatal hernia plus fundoplication (Nissen’s method). On that basis, the patients in the patch group used special mesh for esophageal hiatal hernia repair, while the ones in the non-patch group did not. All the patients were followed up for a long time. The operative effect, postoperative complication rate, recurrence rate, and satisfaction rate of the patients between the two groups were compared.ResultsA total of 98 patients were successfully followed up for more than one year, including 68 in the patch group and 30 in the non-patch group. One year after surgery, the differences between the patch group and the non-patch group in the improvements of reflux attack, heartburn, dysphagia, and food intake were statistically significant (P<0.05); there was no significant difference between the patch group and the non-patch group in satisfaction rate (82.4% vs. 73.3%, P>0.05); the differences in recurrence rate (2.9% vs. 26.7%) and incidence of dysphagia (47.0% vs. 6.7%) between the patch group and the non-patch group were statistically significant (P<0.05).ConclusionFor the patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease caused by esophageal hiatal hernia, the laparoscopic repair of esophageal hiatal hernia + Nissen fundoplication on the basis of reasonable selection of special mesh for esophageal hiatal hernia can obtain satisfactory clinical effect.