Hernia Surgery : All You Need to Know

Undergoing any surgical procedure can be overwhelming, and the same can be said about hernia surgery. If you have been experiencing abdominal pain accompanied by a bulge or swelling, it could be a case of hernia. The word hernia means ‘something coming through’. The condition is characterized by a swelling in the body, which develops when an organ or tissue pushes against a weak tissue or opening in the muscle. Hernias are most common in the abdomen, but they can also appear in the upper thigh, belly button, and groin areas. Most hernias aren’t immediately life-threatening, but they don’t go away on their own. In some cases, they may require surgery to prevent potentially dangerous complications. Here we present all you need to know about Hernia and its surgical treatment. Read on.

Types of Hernia

The most common types of hernias are:

• Inguinal: occurs in the inner groin
• Femoral: occurs in the upper thigh/outer groin
• Incisional: occurs through an incision or scar in the abdomen
• Ventral: occurs in the general abdominal/ventral wall
• Umbilical: occurs at the belly button
• Hiatal: occurs inside the abdomen, along the upper stomach/diaphragm

Causes

Most hernias are caused by a combination of pressure and an opening or weakness of muscle or connective tissue. Sometimes the muscle weakness is present at birth but more often it occurs later in life. Anything that causes an increase in abdominal pressure can cause a hernia, including obesity, lifting heavy objects, diarrhea or constipation, or persistent coughing or sneezing. Poor nutrition, smoking, and overexertion can weaken muscles and contribute to the likelihood of a hernia.

Types of Hernia Surgery

• Open Surgery: The surgeon makes an incision to push the hernia back into place. Afterwards, the surgeon closes the incision using stitches or staples. If the hernia is found to be too large, some support such as mesh will be added in place to prevent it from growing back into the weak spot. The recovery time of open hernia surgery is about 3 weeks.
• Laparoscopic Surgery: The key difference between open and laparoscopic surgery is that the latter does not require a large incision. The surgeon makes small incisions that are just big enough for a laparoscope and specially designed surgical instruments to be put through. The surgeon also inflates your abdomen with a gas so that they can get a better look at your organs. Recovery in this type of hernia repair is much faster, with most patients resuming routine work (with lifting restrictions) in 1 to 2 weeks.Risks Involved
• General infection of the wound as with other surgical procedures.
  
• Pain, especially in the case of open surgery. The area will be sore until healed.
  
• Possible nerve damage to a certain degree because of the staple, stitches, or mesh pressing on a nerve.
  
• Relapse, which can occur when a mesh is not used to seal it back into place.
  

  Who Needs Hernia Surgery?

  Not everyone who develops a hernia desperately needs hernia surgery. Men with groin hernias that don’t present any other symptoms generally don’t require surgery. Hiatal hernias are common, but really only merit repair when they cause symptoms or a large portion of the stomach moves into the chest. Whatever the case, it is important to discuss your case with Hernia surgeons.

  Last Word

  Besides surgery, non-surgical alternatives can also be tried to treat hernias. But if you desperately need it and looking to get inguinal, femoral, or hiatal hernia surgery performed in Fort Worth, Texas the team of surgeons at DFW Bariatrics and General Surgery in Dallas is ideally placed to help. For more information on hernia surgery in Dallas, Fort-Worth, and other areas of Texas simply call 469-620-0222 or fill out our online appointment form and we will take it from there.