Hernias occur when an organ or piece of fat squeezes through a weak spot in the wall of muscle or tissue. There can be a difference in size between each hernia, and depending on the size, it might or might not be visible on your body.
Hernias occur in the groin region and have the following four main types.
This is a painful condition that does not go away on its own. The ultimate solution to get rid of a hernia is surgery, but depending on your condition, you may be able to delay it for months or years. Engaging in strenuous physical activities, such as lifting heavy objects, can aggravate the condition.
Hernias do not go away on their own. It may be recommended at first to change your lifestyle, but if the bulge worsens or if your doctor suspects that blood circulation to the abdominal wall may become blocked, they will advise you to move forward with surgery.
Three types of hernia surgeries are offered; open repair surgery and laparoscopy.
In the following sections, we will discuss open repair surgery, the oldest way to repair a hernia.
An open repair hernia surgery is performed under anesthesia and involves making a 2- to 4-inch incision near the groin hernia to identify the bulge protruding through the abominable wall. The bulge, known as the hernia sac, is identified, separated from other structures in the abdominal wall, and pushed back into the abdomen.
In most cases, surgeons use prosthetic mesh to strengthen the defect in the abdominal wall to prevent the hernia from occurring again. After the repair is complete, the incisions will be closed with staples or stitches. These typically dissolve on their own within a few days.
Postoperative pain is usually not severe after hernia surgeries, and most pain can be controlled with acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Most surgeons allow their patients to leave the hospital the same day after they urinated and their pain has been controlled. However, since your painkillers might make you drowsy after surgery, it's best not to drive yourself home afterward.
It is normal to experience some sort of bruising in the groin area after the surgery. If you notice increased swelling, contact your doctor.
Doctors typically recommend resuming normal activities gradually after surgery. It's not a good idea to remain bedridden for an extended period, as it may result in constipation or blood clots. Don't forget to follow your doctor's instructions regarding physical activities like bending and lifting.
After surgery, the first bowel movement may occur within 1 - 5 days. During this time, you can expect to pass a lot more gas from your rectum than usual. Many patients also experience diarrhea or loose stools in the first days following hernia repair, but in most cases, the problem resolves over time.
In case your experience high fever, chills, and increasing pain consult your doctor immediately.
Like laparoscopy, open hernia repair surgery too is considered safe and works well in most cases. However, some of the risks include incisional surgical site infection, mesh infection, bleeding, and pulmonary and cardiovascular complications.
Laparoscopic surgery offers less pain because of smaller cuts and an earlier return to normal activities than open repair surgery. The muscle damage in the body during this surgery is significantly less as well. This approach, however, requires general anesthesia and is more expensive than open repair surgery.
Open repair surgery, on the other hand, can take a longer time to heal but is inexpensive.
There are several factors to consider when choosing a technique to repair a hernia:
We have a highly successful team of surgeons who specialize in laparoscopy at Hernia Innovations. Book a consultation with one of our experts today to get yourself treated.
