What is Hernia?
A hernia is a weakness or tear in the abdominal muscles that allow organs, such as intestines or fatty tissue to bulge out through the weakened area.
What are the signs and symptoms?
A noticeable bulge appears under the skin along with pain and discomfort. Symptoms feel worse if one stands for long periods, or if one strains abdominal muscles while lifting heavy objects.
What are the various types of Hernia?
The types are:
- Inguinal: the most common type, is in the groin
- Umbilical: around the belly button
- Incisional: through a scar of previous surgery
- Hiatal: a small opening in the diaphragm that allows the upper part of the stomach to move up into the chest
- Congenital diaphragmatic: a birth defect that needs surgery.
What causes Hernia?
Hernias are usually the result of a defect or weakness in the abdominal wall that could be congenital, or due to old age, injury or previous surgical incision. The risk factors are:
- Chronic cough
- Straining during bowel movements or urination
- Straining while lifting heavy objects
- Certain medications such as steroids
- Smoking
- Obesity
- Pregnancy
How can hernia be diagnosed?
During clinical examination, the doctor may diagnose hernia by :
- Careful abdominal exam
- Groin exam (including testicular and scrotal exam in men) Ultrasound
What are the available treatment options?
Surgical Hernia Repair is the treatment option. Certain hernia repair techniques are :
- Suturing : Few muscular defects can simply be sutured closed with good results.
- Mesh : Mesh is a piece of prosthetic material which is inserted through an incision in the abdomen or groin and sutured into position. The placement of a mesh helps reduce tension on the wound, reduce the chances of recurrence of the hernia and reduce pain.
- Hernia surgery : Hernia surgery is performed under either LA or GA. In this the herniated tissue is repositioned, and in case of strangulation the oxygen-starved part of the organ is revived or removed. The damaged muscle wall is frequently repaired with synthetic mesh or tissue.
- Laparoscopic Placement of Mesh : Hernioplasty is increasingly being performed using a laparoscope, a thin, telescope-like instrument that requires smaller incisions and involves a shorter recovery period and less post-operative pain. This technique is often described as a minimally invasive approach requiring three or four small incisions. The mesh is secured below the abdominal muscles and hernia. Hernia repairs may be performed as an outpatient procedure.
