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About Hernia/Types of Hernias
What Is a Hernia?
What Causes Hernias?
How can I tell if I have a hernia?
Types of hernias
What Should I Do About my Hernia?
Hernia Repair Surgery
Recovery
What Is a Hernia?
A hernia occurs when an
organ or tissue squeezes
through a hole or a weak spot
in a surrounding muscle or
connective tissue called fascia.
The most common types
are inguinal, incisional, femoral, umbilical and hiatal.
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What Causes Hernias?
Ultimately, all hernias are caused by a combination of pressure
and an opening or weakness of muscle or fascia: The
pressure pushes an organ or tissue through the opening
or weak spot. Sometimes the muscle weakness is present
at birth; more often, it occurs later in life.
Risk factors for developing a hernia include:
- A chronic cough (often due to smoking)
- Obesity
- Straining during bowel movements or while urinating
- Pregnancy
- Straining to lift heavy objects
- Persistent sneezing (such as that caused from allergies)
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How can I tell if I have a hernia?
If you suspect you have a hernia, see your doctor. A doctor’s
physical examination is often enough to diagnose a hernia.
Sometimes hernia swelling is visible when you stand upright;
usually, the hernia can be felt if you place your hand
directly over it and then bear down. Frequently a hernia is
a source of pain and discomfort. X-rays such as CT scan and
ultrasound may be used to diagnose a hernia.
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Types of hernias:
 Inguinal hernia - the most common type of hernia, affecting about 2% of men in the U.S. Men are more susceptible to this type of hernia because of a potentially weak spot in the groin (known as the “internal ring”).
Epigastric hernia -occurs as a result of a weakness in the muscles of the upper-middle abdomen (above the navel). Three times more men than women develop epigastric hernias, with the majority occurring in people between the ages of 20 and 50.
Femoral hernia - occurs in the area between the abdomen and the thigh, is usually the result of pregnancy and childbirth and is more common among women.
Incisional hernia - can occur at the site of an incision form a previous surgery when fat or tissue pushes through a weakness created by a surgical scar. These can develop weeks, months or years after the initial surgery.
 Umbilical hernia - can occur in the naturally weakened area of the navel where the umbilical cord was attached and the tissue is thinner than the rest of the abdomen. Umbilical hernia can occur in babies, children and adults.
For more information about Inguinal hernias and other types click here.
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What Should I Do About my Hernia?
The only way to cure a hernia is with surgery. All hernias are
not the same. Specific treatment for a hernia will be determined
by your physician based on: your age, overall health,
and medical history; the extent of the condition; your tolerance
for specific medications, procedures, or therapies;
your expectations for the course of the condition; and your
opinion or preference.
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Hernia Repair Surgery
Most hernias in the U.S. are repaired using open tensionfree
repair. There are several variations to this procedure.
All hernias are not created equal. Our philosophy is to tailor
each repair to meet each patient’s need. In general, we believe
the open tension-free repair using newer lightweight
mesh is superior. Our technique provides a minimally invasive
procedure which can usually be performed under local
anesthesia to allow quick return to normal activity.
Traditional hernia repair surgery. An incision is made in the abdomen around the hernia, protruding tissue is pushed back and the hernia is stitched closed. Tension repair is primarily recommended for children or for extremely small hernias.
Treatment Options
- With laparoscopic repair, a fiber optic viewing tube is used to examine the hernia and place a mesh patch on the inside of the abdominal wall where pressure from within the abdominal cavity helps to hold the mesh in place.
- More recently, one-piece mesh repair devices were developed that can be inserted and positioned to cover the affected area from both the inside and outside of the abdominal wall. A novel version of this device that features a mesh cone can be inserted through a small incision and then flattened to cover and support the inside of the abdominal wall.
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Recovery
In most cases, you will be home the same day of your
surgery. You may experience some discomfort and pain for a few days, depending on such things as your physical
condition prior to surgery, the size of your hernia, and
the repair technique used by your surgeon. Your doctor
will likely prescribe pain medication for you to take if you
need it; in some cases over-the-counter pain relievers may
be strong enough.
And remember… Don’t let a hernia keep you from leading
a normal active life. While hernias are common, if untreated
they can develop into serious and dangerous complications.
Keep in mind that hernias don’t get smaller and they
don’t go away by themselves. Soon after surgery, you will
be back to doing the things you enjoy most.
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