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Hernia surgery and quick recovery.
It has been estimated that 3% of the general population suffers from hernias, and more than 700,000 hernias are repaired every year in the U.S. For every woman with a hernia, there are 12 men who suffer from the condition. Even children can get hernias.
Hernias often show up as a bulge under the skin. Sometimes pain indicates the presence of a hernia, although the pain may only show up after exercise, coughing, or simply sitting in a chair. In other cases, a physical exam, a CT scan or laparoscopic surgery for unrelated conditions may uncover a hernia.
If there is no pain or disability from a hernia, it’s not necessary to operate. However, there is a risk that non-treatment may later lead to emergency surgery if strangulation of the protruding organ occurs.
Surgery is often the best and safest solution for the discomfort of a hernia. Most can be operated on through either open surgery or laparoscopic surgery. Both are out-patient procedures, and in both cases patients can return to ordinary activities within a few days.
We have found that the safest, most painless and successful hernia repair is the two-layer open mesh repair, which places synthetic mesh on both the inside and outside of the hernia tear, connected by a central mesh cylinder. This is the preferred method for treating direct and indirect inguinal hernias---which are the most common hernias in men. Indirect inguinal hernias form near the opening of the inguinal canal, a tunnel running between the abdomen and groin that often develops weakness. Over time, the intestine can slide into the canal, forming a bulge in the groin. During surgery, the hernia sac and protruding organ are moved back into the abdomen and mesh is secured to surrounding tissues, patching the hernia.
Ventral or incisional hernias bulge through the scar left from a prior surgery. They can show up months or years after the original operation, but become more difficult to repair if they are not treated early. It is best to mend these hernias with mesh secured to nearby tissues, for a tension-free repair.
Umbilical hernias bulge through the belly button, and can be present at birth or occur after abdominal pressure such as pregnancy or obesity. Out-patient surgery for this hernia should also be performed with mesh.
Femoral hernias are most common in women, and show up as a lump where the leg joins the lower abdomen. A weakness in the femoral canal allows the intestine to push into this opening where blood vessels and nerves connect the abdomen and leg. After the protruding organ is pushed back into the abdomen, a mesh repair seals the hernia.
In hiatal hernias, the stomach pushes up from the abdomen into the chest, causing heartburn or acid reflux that can often be managed with medication. If medicine does not alleviate the discomfort, surgery can repair the hiatal hernia.
Sports hernias are different from other hernias in that they are not easily identified by an exam or imaging technology. They may only show up as groin pain that occurs during physical activity and disappears during inactivity. A tear in the transversalis fascia is responsible for this hernia. The best treatment is an out-patient, open hernia repair incorporating mesh, using local anesthesia.
For more information on the recommended treatment for your specific hernia, speak with your Midwest Hernia Center surgeon.
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