Hernias are different depending on their location. They affect the lives of the people who suffer from them, conditioning their social and labor activity. Dr. Escartín, a specialist in General Surgery, talks in this article about hernia prevention and definitive treatment.
A hernia is the protrusion or displacement of an organ through an orifice or defect in the abdominal wall. They do not heal on their own, but always grow and the only definitive treatment is surgery. Hernias usually increase in size over time, due to the pressure produced by the abdominal cavity. Normally the hernia returns to the interior of the abdomen when adopting the decubitus position, which is lying upwards, and exerting a slight pressure on it, but it comes out again when the pressure of the abdomen increases.
Types of hernia
Depending on their location, hernias can be:
– Inguinal Hernia: Appears as a bulge in the groin or scrotum. It is more common in men than in women.
– Crural hernia: Appears in the upper thigh. It is more common in women than in men.
– Incisional hernia or eventration: Swelling occurs from the scar of a previous surgical intervention.
– Umbilical hernia: a bulge appears around the navel.
– Epigastric hernia: the bulge appears in the area above the navel.
Risk factors for hernia
In most cases the exact cause of the hernia cannot be known, certain factors contribute to its occurrence or increase the risk:
-Overweight and obesity.
-Carrying weight.
-Chronic cough.
-Prostate enlargement
-Constipation.
-Family history of hernia.
Symptoms of hernia
Although they can also be asymptomatic, a hernia usually causes discomfort and pain, especially when after a great effort or continuity in the same. The symptomatology of hernias can affect physical, occupational and social activity. The most visible sign is a bulge that occurs in the area of the protrusion, by which the specialist can detect the hernia with a physical examination.
Consequences of hernias
Hernias can affect the quality of life and independence of those who suffer from them, causing sick leave from work. The pain it causes also leads to a necessary reduction in physical exercise.
Sometimes, the herniated organ can produce disorders in its function, even serious clinical pictures by “strangulation of the hernia”, which require urgent surgery. These consequences are easily reversible with proper treatment of hernia pathology.
Surgical treatment of hernia
The definitive treatment for most hernias is surgical repair of the hernia. The intervention consists of returning the protruding organ to its position and repairing the existing defect in the muscular wall to prevent the protrusion from recurring.
In many cases it is necessary to use a prosthetic mesh that helps to reinforce the affected tissues. Treatment of hernias is not usually urgent, except in cases where the affected organ is compromised and cannot be reduced. However, surgery should be performed before complications arise.
After hernia surgery the patient usually needs to be admitted to hospital for less than 24 hours. After the operation, intense physical exertion should be avoided for two to four weeks, after which the patient will gradually return to normal physical activity.