Abdominal hernia

What is hernia?

A hernia most commonly develops as a result of the weakening of the inner layer of muscles of the abdominal wall. Prevailing increased intra-abdominal pressure pushes at the weak spots in the wall. It leads to the formation of a hernial sac to which, over time, an intestine or other abdominal organs can break through. The risk group includes obese people, people doing physical jobs or with respiratory or excretory disorders. Sometimes hernia occurs in pregnant or postnatal women. It can also occur after a surgical procedure in the vicinity of a scar.  

Risk

Initially, a hernia usually does not give a lot of pain, and its contents can be easily pushed back into the abdominal cavity. Problems begin when the hernial sac is enlarged by high intra-abdominal pressure caused by chronic cough, physical effort, rectal tenesmus or vesical tenesmus. As a consequence, internal organs move, may also grow together with the wall of the hernial sac, and then get incarcerated. Then the situation requires immediate surgical intervention. Therefore, it is not advisable to wait too long to visit the surgeon. You will note that the smaller the hernia, the smaller the post-surgery trauma.

How it’s done

Currently, surgeons have many methods of surgery at their disposal; advanced age and underlying conditions are not usually contraindications to surgery. The purpose of a hernia surgery is to push back the hernial sac and its contents into the peritoneal cavity and then to strengthen the wall. The use of proper surgical technique and the use of a mesh provide stable strengthening of the abdominal wall.

The most common hernias are inguinal hernia. There are many methods of treatment of hernia. In our clinic, we use the Lichtenstein, Rutkow or PHS method using a polypropylene mesh. Also, the type of anaesthesia depends on the general health of the patient and is determined individually. A few hours after the procedure the patient may be released home or remain in our care until the next day.