Hernia

What is Hernia?

A hernia is a common condition and occurs when an internal organ bulges through a weak area of muscle or tissue. Hernia surgery is needed when the hernia causes problems like pain, swelling, trouble breathing, and/or bowel obstruction. Hernia is a protrusion of tissue or organ from its normal position. It usually happens because of an injury or defect in the abdominal muscles and is also an effect of aging. The condition may not produce any symptoms but may result in severe pain. An emergency may arise when the contents bulge out through the opening which creates pressure on the blood supply to the tissues.

Types of Hernia

Femoral Hernia

Incisional Hernia

Epigastric Hernia

Inguinal (groin) Hernia

Direct Inguinal Hernia

Obturator Hernia

Spigelian Hernia

Indirect Inguinal Hernia

Umbilical Hernia

Femoral Hernia

A femoral hernia is a bulge on the inner thigh, below the inguinal area. The femoral nerve, vein, and artery pass through the path of the femoral canal and leave the abdominal cavity to come into the thigh. A bulge is caused by a femoral hernia beneath the inguinal crease around the mid-thigh area. This condition is usually seen in women where the femoral hernias are not able to be strangulated (have their blood supply cut off) or pushed back into place (irreducible).

Incisional Hernia

Incisional hernia refers to the development of a weak spot in the abdominal wall. This happens after an operation that involves cutting the abdomen. It may come back even after going through surgical repair.

Epigastric Hernia

An epigastric hernia is a rare type of abdominal hernia that affects the region of the lower part of the rib cage and abdomen. Epigastric hernias occur between the lower part of the chest and navel along with fatty tissue. This type of hernia cannot be pushed back into the abdomen, and it is painless.

Inguinal (groin) Hernia

This type of hernia is mostly seen in men (25 times more often) as compared to women. Inguinal hernia makes up around 75 percent of all abdominal wall hernias. Direct and indirect are the two kinds of inguinal hernia. Both indirect and direct take place in the groin area where the skin of the thigh joins the inguinal crease (the torso). Both emerge as a bulge in the groin area.

Direct Inguinal Hernia

It is a quite common type of hernia that usually develops in older and middle-aged people. This hernia develops within the location of the indirect hernia, in the abdominal wall area. It usually develops when the abdominal wall weakens and needs to be fixed as soon as possible.

Obturator Hernia

Obturator hernia is a rare and obscure type of hernia. There is no bulging or swelling when you look at the abdomen. Most patients are female, and it can result in vomiting if not treated properly.

Spigelian Hernia

Spigelian Hernia is a rare type of hernia. Spigelian hernias develop at the borderline of the rectus abdominus muscle throughout the Spigelian fascia. It mostly affects middle-aged men.

Indirect Inguinal Hernia

An indirect inguinal hernia is created when the mass is not closed properly at birth and is located on the inside of the testicles as opposed to a direct hernia route. In this case, there may be abdominal contents within the scrotum that can cause pain, discomfort, and swelling.

Umbilical Hernia

An umbilical hernia is an abnormal protrusion of the lining of the abdominal cavity through the belly button. When this occurs, it becomes hard and painful for the child. It usually disappears by itself within a year or two, but rarely needs surgery to correct it.

Who Should go for Hernia Surgery?

If your hernia is large, it could hamper your daily activities. You may have to restrict yourself from certain movements, due to the discomfort in the area. Moreover, it might put the bowel at risk (you can get trapped in a hernia).

Symptoms of Hernia

Symptoms of Strangulated hernia include

Symptoms of Irreducible hernia include

Symptoms of Reducible hernia include

Symptoms of Strangulated hernia include

A hernia is a condition in which some organ slips through the muscle wall of the stomach or intestine. As a result, there is swelling in the abdomen. This can be due to a strangled hernia. The symptoms of this condition include:

Abdominal discomfort
Pain in the chest or shoulder area
Lower back pain when coughing or laughing deeply
You may feel abnormally frequent bowel movements – but this is not always the case
Sometimes, there are no digestive problems or associated symptoms at all, and it might take a medical examination to prove that you have a hernia.

Symptoms of Irreducible hernia include

Symptoms of irreducible hernia may include bowel obstruction and strangulation.
There can be a pain, vomiting, nausea, and other gastrointestinal symptoms.
Irreducible hernias are not often diagnosed because they cause no symptoms and can be discovered because of other health problems.
It is most common in adults and elderly people but has been observed in children as well.

Symptoms of Reducible hernia include

Reducible hernias have a definite lump that can be pushed back into the abdominal cavity.
This type of hernia may appear as a new lump in the groin area or another abdominal region.
Although it may be painful, reducible hernias are not tender when touched.

Causes of Hernia

Hernias are usually present at birth but can also develop later in life. This can occur when there is increased pressure on the abdominal cavity, which results in a hernia forming. Congenital hernias tend to be more common in men while acquired hernias are more common in women. To reduce hernia risk, you must eat a diet rich in fiber and engage in regular physical activity.

Hernia Repair

Hernia repair is a procedure to correct a defect in the abdominal wall and repair the hernia. The surgical procedure for fixing a hernia is termed hernia repair. Herniorrhaphy is the other name for this procedure. There are 2 kinds of hernia repair

Laparoscopic Hernia Repair :
Laparoscopic Hernia Repair reduces postoperative pain and recovery time. The procedure aims to repair a hole in the diaphragm or abdominal wall. The surgeon creates tiny incisions and inserts long-handled surgical instruments and a laparoscope through them. Carbon dioxide gas is inflated into the abdomen, allowing the surgeon to see internal structures during the procedure.
Traditional (open) Hernia Repair :
Open or traditional hernia repair is an open surgery to fix the internal portion of the rupture by stitching it. This can take up to one hour and may require lifting the affected organ(s) to allow access to the affected area(s).

Benefits Of Laparoscopic Hernia Repair Surgery

A laparoscopic hernia repair surgery is efficient and offers great benefits to patients. A person can live a normal life without a gallbladder. Though the organ can be useful, it is not necessary.

The liver of a person will still produce bile for digesting the food. By adopting simple lifestyle changes, a person can live a normal life-

The laparoscopic method involves making only a few small incisions instead of one large incision. This minimizes blood loss and postoperative pain and can allow the patient to return to work quickly.

Cost Of Hernia Surgery in India

The hernia operation is an extremely common surgical procedure. A hernia is a medical condition where an internal body structure protrudes through the muscular wall of the abdomen, groin, or chest surface. Hernias can be treated without surgery or repair surgery or organ removal. Hernia surgery is performed by highly skilled surgeons in India. It is performed using cutting edge technology and well-maintained hospitals and centres. The minimum average cost of hernia surgery in India ranges start from USD 1134 to USD 4682 (INR (INR 90,000 to 3, 71,400). The cost may differ across Indian cities and as well as depend on the hospitals and treatment the patient has chosen.

FAQs

How to recover after inguinal hernia surgery?

The recovery time will depend on how you were treated. If you had open surgery, it may take up to six weeks for a full recovery. You will have some pain, but it should get better over time. With laparoscopy, patients can get back to normal activities within about a few days. If complications occur, you may need to stay in the hospital longer.

Can you die if you have a hernia?

Hernias can be life-threatening, especially if they become strangulated or incarcerated. A strangulated hernia is an incarcerated hernia that becomes pinched or twisted and cut off from the blood supply by scar tissue. Many surgeons recommend surgery because it can prevent this serious problem. Without a normal blood supply, tissues may die. This occurs when a loop of intestine or fatty tissue is trapped in a hernia and the blood supply is cut off, killing the tissue.

Is surgery necessary for an inguinal hernia?

Surgery for an inguinal hernia is necessary if the hernia is causing pain or discomfort, if it cannot be pushed back into the abdomen, or if it continues to enlarge. Surgery may also be recommended in cases where an inguinal hernia contains a loop of the intestine without blood supply (strangulated hernia) or a trapped loop of the intestine (incarcerated hernia).

How long does it take to heal from an inguinal hernia surgery?

Inguinal hernia surgery is a common procedure, and recovery time often varies for the patient. Most patients can return to light activity after 3 weeks, most in the form of walking. The key here is to wait for 6 months before resuming heavy exercise again.

What are the risks and complications of inguinal hernia surgery?

There are risks and complications associated with inguinal hernia repair surgery. Some of the complications could include prolonged pain, recurrence of the hernia, damage to blood vessels and nerves, infection, or injury to nearby organs.

Can a hernia heal on its own? What can happen if a hernia is not treated?

Usually, hernias cannot heal without surgery. Hernias can get bigger with time, and you may experience more pain if your hernia is larger. The point of surgical repair is to relieve the symptoms of the condition, prevent worsening of symptoms, and decrease in quality of life.