Hernia

A hernia is a gap or space in the strong tissue that holds muscles in place. A hernia occurs when the inside layers of the abdominal muscle have weakened, resulting in a hernia bulge or tear.

In the same way that an inner tube pushes through a damaged tire, the inner lining of the abdominal cavity pushes through the weakened area of the abdominal wall to form a small balloon like sac. This can allow a loop of intestine or abdominal tissue to push into the sac.

Hernia can occur in both men and women. A person may be born with a hernia (congenital) or develop one over time (acquired).

The common areas where hernias occur are in the groin (inguinal), belly button (umbilical), and the site of previous abdominal surgery (incisional).

1. Inguinal Hernia

The inguinal canal in men allows for the passage of the spermatic chord and other blood vessels to the testicles. On the other hand, for women, it is the passage for the ligament that supports the uterus. This type of hernia can be classified into two different types, which are direct and indirect inguinal hernia. It happens when fatty tissue (or a part of the intestine) pushes through the groin. Inguinal hernias are more common in men.

2. Femoral Hernia

This happens when a part of the intestine pushes the inner thigh or top of the femur. Femoral hernias are more common in older women.

3. Umbilical Hernia

It happens when part of the fatty tissue pushes through the navel area.

4. Hiatal Hernia

Hiatal hernias are caused by a part of the stomach pushing through the diaphragm towards the chest cavity.

5. Incisional Hernia

A part of internal tissue pushes through the site of an abdominal scar.

6. Epigastric Hernia

This happens when fatty tissue pushes through the area between the navel and breastbone.

7. Spigelian Hernia

This happens when a part of the intestine pushes through the side of the abdomen below the navel area.

The wall of the abdomen has natural areas of potential weakness. Hernias can develop at these or other areas due to heavy strain on the abdominal wall due to lifting heavy weights, sports, aging, injury, an old incision, or a weakness present from birth.

Anyone can develop a hernia at any age. Most hernias in children are congenital. In adults, a natural weakness or strain from heavy lifting, persistent coughing, difficulty with bowel movements or urination can cause the abdominal wall to weaken or separate.

Common symptoms caused by a hernia are:

• Bulge under the skin
• Pain or discomfort when lifting heavy objects
• Cough
• Strain during urination or bowel movements, or during prolonged standing or sitting

The pain may be sharp and immediate or may be a dull ache that gets worse towards the end of the day. Severe, continuous pain, redness, and tenderness are signs that the hernia may be entrapped or strangulated like strangulated hernia.

Another sign of this is if the bulge used to come and go but is now stuck and cannot be reduced. These symptoms, including inguinal hernia symptoms are a cause for concern, and you should immediately contact your physician or surgeon.

Except for umbilical hernias in newborns and babies, other hernias do not go away on their own if not treated. They only grow more painful with time and can cause more complications with time. Some of these include:

• Obstructions - this may happen when a part of the intestine gets deeply stuck within the inguinal canal causing issues in digestion and leading to nausea, stomach pain, and vomiting.
• Blood circulation issues - these happen when the intestine gets trapped in a way to cut off the blood supply. These are medical emergencies and may need immediate surgical intervention.

A hernia does not get better over time, nor will it go away by itself. There are no exercises or physiotherapy regimens that can treat hernia.

A hernia may be detected by your doctor on a routine physical examination. It may lead to potentially serious problems, such as intestinal obstruction or strangulated bowel, and may require emergency hernia surgery.

Following are the commonly used treatment options:

• Open surgery: As the name implies, it is done by making an incision in the body at the impacted area and pushing the protruding tissue back to its original place and stitching the weakened muscles back together.
• Laparoscopic Hernia Repair: Laparoscopic Hernia Repair is a technique to repair the defects in the abdominal wall using small incisions, telescopes, and a patch. Compared to conventional surgery, laparoscopic surgery offers a shorter hospital stay, less pain after surgery, faster return to work and normal activity for most patients.