A hernia is when the inner part of the body pushes through a weak spot in either the surrounding tissue wall or the muscle. Usually your muscles are strong enough to keep your organs in place.

 

You get many different type of Hernias. Different types groups of people are affected by different type of hernias of which inguinal hernias are the most common.

 

Most Hernias have few or no symptoms.

 

Diagnosing:

A hernia can be felt by your doctor during your clinical examination.

The severity of it can be assessed in your x-ray department by using and ultrasound scan.

 

Different Hernias:

- Inguinal Hernia – part of your bowel poke through your lower abdomen into the groin area. Requires surgery most of the time

- Incisional Hernia – tissue push through and old surgical scar in your abdomen

- Umbilical Hernia – fatty tissue or a part of your bowel pushes through your abdomen near your belly button. Doesn’t often require surgery

- Hiatus Hernia – your stomach pushes up into your chest through an opening in the diaphragm (the muscle that separates the chest from the abdomen). Can mostly be treated symptomatic

 

Treatment:

Hernias can be surgically repaired. We can use an open procedure (incision over the hernia site), or laparoscopic procedure (keyhole surgery).

They can also be closed with either sutures or by using mesh.

 

Whether you are a candidate for surgery depends on the following

 

- Where is the hernia? Groin hernias are more likely required to have surgery

- What are your symptoms? Some hernias are symptoms free, but others can be painful

- What is the content of your hernia? Is it filled with bowel, muscle or tissue?

 

Hernias are mostly without symptoms, but it can develop into a serious condition where bowel gets pinched and obstruction is caused.