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Almost all hernias require surgery. If left unfixed, hernias may increase in size, making future treatment difficult.
WHAT IS A HERNIA?
A hernia is a protrusion of intestine or internal fat through a weakness or hole in the abdominal musculature.
WHO GETS HERNIAS?
Most adult hernias are the result of strain on muscles that have been weakened by age or congenital factors. Chronic coughing, lifting, constipation, and weight gain have been associated with hernia development.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF A HERNIA?
Everyone is different so symptoms will vary. Some hernias may not have any symptoms while others may be associated with a lot of complaints. Commonly they will present as a bulge that may be accompanied by discomfort or pain. When the bulge disappears on its own or with some gentle pressure it is called reducible. If a hernia cannot be pushed back in then it is called incarcerated or non-reducible. Sometimes a hernia will become incarcerated and the blood supply will get cut off thereby forming a strangulated hernia. This is usually a very painful bulge and if not treated quickly can become a life threatening emergency.
WHEN DOES A HERNIA NEED SURGERY?
Almost all hernias require surgery. With the exception of umbilical hernias in children hernias do not resolve. If left unfixed hernias may increase in size, which may make their repair more difficult. Further, a hernia that strangulates requires emergency surgery, which naturally is associated with more risks.
HOW ARE HERNIAS REPAIRED?
The majority of hernias are repaired in the outpatient setting, but very large incisional hernias and strangulated hernias may require a hospitalization. The conventional repair of groin hernias closes the hole in the muscle by using sutures to bring together the healthy stronger tissues around the hernia. This technique has a slightly higher risk of recurrence because it can create tension on the surrounding tissues and thereby weaken them.
Like conventional repair, the tension free mesh repair of groin hernias is done through an incision a couple of inches long placed over the site of the hernia. The repair anchors mesh, a plastic screen, into the healthy muscle to patch the defect. This creates less tension on the tissues which is responsible for the lower risk of recurrent hernia. The laparoscopic repair also uses mesh to repair the hernia defect but in this technique the mesh is inserted through several small incisions and placed behind the muscle. It too has a low risk of recurrence and usually has a shorter recovery and return to work period than the other methods of repair. Incisional and umbilical hernias can be repaired either with or without mesh and either through the laparoscope or larger incisions. The method selected usually depends in part on the size of the hernia.
Article provided by Hilton Head Hospital.
