Ventral Hernia - Causes & Surgical Treatment Of It!

A ventral hernia is a distinct condition that may happen after surgery. It occurs when there is a hole in the muscles of the abdominal wall.

A ventral hernia is easily identifiable as it is characterized by a protruding bulge in the abdominal area. Common spots for a ventral hernia include the area from the breastbone to the navel.

Causes:

A ventral hernia may occur to someone who has undergone recent surgery in the abdominal region; anyone with congenital deformity having thin abdominal walls; or a person with a previous history of abdominal hernias.

How to Identify Ventral Hernia?

Symptoms of a ventral hernia take weeks to develop. You should consult the doctor if you notice the following warning signs –

• Pain in the abdominal area especially while lifting any object
• Discomfort in the abdomen
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Bulging of skin in the lower abdominal areas

Most prevalent methods of diagnosis include imaging tests like abdominal ultrasounds, CT Scans and MRI.

Surgical Treatments for Ventral Hernia:

If left unattended, a ventral hernia can lead to serious complications. Following are the treatment options available if one resorts to surgery.

• Mesh Placement surgery – In this process the surgeon pushes the bulging tissue back in place in a way so that it stays there. It is considered one of the safest and reliable modes of treatment. It also reduces the possibility of a recurrence.

• Laparoscopic Repair – During this process, a small camera is inserted through the incision. The surgeon identifies the damaged area and fixes it with or without a mesh. The benefit of this kind of surgery is that the cut is smaller which reduces the chance of infection. Postoperative pain is almost negligible and recovery time is much faster.

• Open Surgery or Non-Laparoscopic – In this kind of surgery the doctor makes a medium size incision adjacent to the hernia and repositions the tissues. Here again, the mesh may or may not be used. However, in this process, the recovery period is slightly longer.

Long Term Effects of Surgical Treatments:

Surgical treatments of a ventral hernia rarely come with any complications. One needs to rest for only a few days before resuming an active life. In fact, surgery prevents chances of reoccurrence of a hernia in the future.