Hernia - Things You Must Know To Effectively Manage It!

A hernia is a hole or weakness in the abdominal muscle wall through which the contents of the abdomen protrude out leading to a bulge. The contents push out a pouch of the abdominal lining through the weakness paving the formation of the sac of a hernia. There are different types of a hernia even though the most common of them is inguinal or a groin hernia. Other variants of a hernia include indirect inguinal hernia, direct inguinal hernia, and femoral hernia.

When should you seek medical attention for a hernia?

The newly discovered symptoms of a hernia prompt the need to visit the doctor. In some cases, hernia doesn’t necessarily require surgical treatments. But it is worthy of mention here that all hernias have the potential to become serious. When you find a new and painful tender lump, it is likely that you have an irreducible hernia.

When is a surgery recommended?

Surgery is generally recommended for all inguinal hernias for the prevention of complications including strangulation where the loop of intestine becomes trapped in a hernia very tightly. It cuts off the blood supply to the affected part of the intestine.

When a hernia can be pushed back or reduced, then the surgery is performed as per the convenience of the patient. If it cannot be pushed back to its original place, surgery is required to be performed sooner. But surgery is not altogether recommended when the hernia is small, and the affected individual does not have any signs and symptoms of a hernia.

What are the different types of surgeries available for the treatment of a hernia?

Two types of procedures can be used for the repair of an inguinal hernia- laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair and open inguinal hernia repair.

1. Laparoscopic inguinal hernia surgery is similar to the common laparoscopic procedures. The patient is given general anesthesia, and a small incision is made right underneath the navel. The abdomen becomes inflated with air making it possible for the surgeon to see through the organs in the abdomen.
2. In the case of an open hernia repair surgery, a single long incision is made in the groin area. When a hernia bulges out of the abdominal wall, it is pushed back into the correct place. But when a hernia is going down the inguinal canal, the hernia sac is either tied back or pushed back or removed. If you undergo this surgery, you can go home the same day while complete recovery takes about 3 weeks. Studies have found that people have lesser pain and complications after laparoscopic hernia repair compared to open hernia surgery.

Your primary healthcare provider would be able to diagnose and provide initial treatment for hernia. However, a definitive treatment requires surgery and depending on the location of a hernia and the repair surgery can be performed by the general surgeon.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!