EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT ABDOMINAL HERNIA SURGERY
What is an abdominal hernia?
An abdominal hernia occurs when an organ pushes through a gap in the muscle or tissue that holds it in place. The intestines, for example, could break through a weak spot in the abdominal wall.
Hernias most commonly develop between the chest and hips. However, they can also occur in the upper thigh and groin.
Types of Hernia
There are several different types of abdominal hernias. We’ll look at a few of the more prevalent ones below.
- Inguinal hernia
- Femoral hernia
- Hiatal hernia
- Umbilical hernia
- Incisional hernia
- Epigastric hernia
Inguinal hernia
An inguinal hernia is a disorder in which the bladder or intestine protrudes through the abdominal wall or into the inguinal canal. Inguinal hernias account for over 96 percent of all groin hernias, and the majority of them arise in men due to an inherent weakness in this area.
Femoral hernia
A femoral hernia is caused when the intestine enters the canal that leads to the femoral artery in the upper thigh. Femoral hernias are more common in women, particularly pregnant or obese women.
Hiatal hernia
A hiatal hernia arises when the upper stomach presses across the hiatus, through which the esophagus passes.
Incisional hernia
The intestine pushes through the abdominal wall of an incisional hernia on the preliminary abdominal operation. This is most frequently used in older and overweight individuals who are inactive after an abdominal operation.
Umbilical hernia
A segment of the small intestine goes through the abdominal wall at the navel in an umbilical hernia. It is most frequent in infants, but it can also affect obese women or those who have had many children.
Signs and Symptoms of an Abdominal Hernia
The symptoms of a hernia differ depending on the type of hernia. You may not experience any symptoms in some circumstances.
Symptoms of femoral, inguinal, umbilical, and incisional hernias include:
- An apparent swelling of the abdomen or groin beneath the skin. It could be tender, and it could go away if you lie down.
- A heavy feeling in the abdomen, which might be caused by constipation or blood in the stool.
- A hard time swallowing
- When lifting or leaning over, you may have discomfort in your abdomen or groin.
- Vomiting
- Constipation
- A aching or burning sensation at the bulge
- Shooting pain
- Pain and swelling around the testicles
- Weakness or pressure in your groin
- Heartburn
Hiatal hernia symptoms may include heartburn and upper abdominal pain.
Causes of Abdominal Hernia
A combination of muscular weakness and strain causes hernias. A hernia can grow fast or slowly, depending on the etiology.
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The following are the most common causes of muscle weakness or strain that can lead to a hernia:
- A congenital condition that develops during pregnancy and is present at birth.
- Aging
- damage from a surgery or an injury
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) or chronic coughing
- lifting heavy weights or strenuous exercises
- pregnancy, especially having multiple pregnancies
- being overweight or obese
- Constipation, which causes bowel movements to be difficult.
- fluid in the abdomen, or ascites
Certain factors can also raise your chances of acquiring a hernia.
They include:
- being older
- a personal or family history of hernias
- cystic fibrosis
- chronic cough (most likely due to the repetitive increase in abdominal pressure)
- being obese or overweight
- chronic constipation
- smoking (causing the connective tissue to weaken)
- pregnancy
- being prematurely born
- having a low birth weight
Complications of Abdominal Hernia
Untreated hernias can sometimes lead to life-threatening complications. Your hernia may worsen, resulting in increased symptoms. It may also exert too much pressure on neighboring tissues, resulting in swelling and pain in the area.
A part of your intestine may become caught in the abdominal wall as well. This is referred to as incarceration. Incarceration can cause bowel obstruction, resulting in extreme pain, nausea, and constipation.
Strangulation occurs when the trapped segment of your intestines does not receive enough blood flow. Intestinal tissue can become infected or die as a result of this. A strangulated hernia is life-threatening and necessitates medical attention right away.
The following are some signs that you should seek emergency medical assistance for your hernia:
- a bulge that turns color to red or purple
- pain that suddenly gets worse
- nausea or vomiting
- fever
- the inability to pass gas or bowel movements
Diagnosis of Abdominal Hernia
Your doctor will first undertake a physical examination to diagnose your illness. A bulge in your abdomen or groin may be felt by your doctor that gets bigger as you stand, cough, or strain during this exam.
Your medical history will then be taken by your doctor. They may ask you a range of questions, such as the following:
- When was the first time you noticed the bulge?
- Is there a history of hernias in your family?
- Have you seen any additional signs or symptoms?
- Do you believe there was a specific reason for it to happen?
- Tell me a little about your way of life. Does your job entail a lot of heavy lifting? Do you put in a lot of effort in your workouts? Do you have a smoking history?
- Have you ever undergone surgery in your abdomen or groin area?
Medical Investigation
Imaging tests will very certainly be used by your doctor to aid in their diagnosis. These may include the following:
- Abdominal ultrasound, which creates an image of the structures inside the body using high-frequency sound waves
- CT scan, which combines X-rays and computer technologies to create an image
- An MRI scan creates an image by combining strong magnets and radio waves.
How do you treat an abdominal hernia without surgery?
Without surgery, a hernia usually does not heal. Wearing a corset, binder, or truss, for example, can apply mild pressure to the hernia and keep it in place without surgery. These approaches may help to relieve pain or discomfort if you are unable to undergo surgery or are awaiting surgery. However, a hernia cannot be effectively cured without surgery.
Which surgery is best for abdominal hernia?
Even in the context of several previous abdominal surgeries, laparoscopic hernia repair is a safe and effective procedure, with two-thirds of patients requiring less than 24 hours of hospitalization. It also allows for the detection of second hernia problems that were previously undiagnosed.
Which surgery is best for abdominal hernia?
Even in the context of several previous abdominal surgeries, laparoscopic hernia repair is a safe and effective procedure, with two-thirds of patients requiring less than 24 hours of hospitalization. It also allows for the detection of second hernia problems that were previously undiagnosed.
How long does laparoscopic hernia surgery take to recover from?
The majority of patients who undergo laparoscopic hernia repair surgery are able to return home the same day. It takes 1 to 2 weeks to recover fully. Within 1 to 2 weeks, you should be able to resume modest activities. After four weeks of healing, you should resume strenuous exercise.
Laparoscopic hernia surgery is better than open repair
In the short run, studies have indicated that laparoscopic surgery is superior to open surgery in terms of blood loss, perioperative problems, and hospital stay. Long-term consequences, such as recurrence rates, are unknown at this time.
