Hernias

What is a hernia?

A hernia occurs when the muscles of the abdomen develops a weak spot or tears, allowing organs such as the intestine to push abdominal lining through the tear.

Where do hernias occur?

Most hernias occur in the groin area (inguinal/femoral hernia), but can occur in other areas around the body such as the belly button (umbilical hernia), in the midline of the abdomen (ventral hernia) or at the site of a previous operation (incisional hernia).

What are the symptoms?

You may notice a small bulge under the skin when you are standing upright. It is often detected when it is about the size of a small marble.

It can be aggravated by coughing, constipation or heavy lifting and can become larger and more painful over time.

What causes hernias?

Hernias (inguinal) can be present at birth, yet most hernias occur due to strain on abdominal muscles over time. Hernias can occur acutely on heavy exertion and present with sudden pain and a lump.

How are hernias treated?

Hernias are surgically repaired usually under general anaesthetic but some can be repaired under a local anaesthetic.  It involves pushing or pulling the abdominal lining back into the abdomen and repairing the tear or weak spot. A surgeon may insert a mesh patch into the abdomen to strengthen the weak spot. This is a permanent patch and cannot be felt inside the body, in time tissue will grow over the patch.

Hernias can be repaired using an open or laparoscopic approach. I have significant experience with both techniques and will assess which would be the best approach at the time of consultation.

 

See details on Mesh Hernia Repair.