What Kind Of Doctor Does Hernia Repair

Definition
- What Is a Hernia?
9 Types
- What Are the Dissimilar Types of Hernias?
Causes
- What Are Causes and Risk Factors for Hernias?
Symptoms/Signs
- What Are Hernia Symptoms and Signs?
Phone call a Md
- When Should You Call a Medico for a Hernia?
- Which Type of Doctors Treat Hernias?
Treatment
- How Are Hernias Diagnosed?
- What Is the Treatment for Hernias?
- Will You Demand Surgery for a Hernia?
- What Are the Complications After Surgery for a Hernia?
- Is Follow-up Needed After Hernia Treatment?
- What Activities Should You Avoid If You Take a Hernia?
- Is It Possible to Forbid a Hernia?
Guide
- Hernia Topic Guide
- Doctor'southward Notes on Hernia Symptoms

What Is a Hernia?

A man's abdomen with a hernia.

Hernias can have serious complications if non treated.

A hernia occurs when the contents of a body crenel bulge out of the area where they are normally contained. These contents, usually portions of intestine or intestinal fat tissue, are enclosed in the thin membrane that naturally lines the inside of the cavity. Hernias by themselves may exist asymptomatic (produce no symptoms) or crusade slight to severe pain. The pain can occur while resting or only during certain activities such as walking or running. Nearly all hernias have a potential take a chance of having their blood supply cut off (becoming strangulated). When the content of the hernia bulges out, the opening information technology bulges out through can use enough pressure that blood vessels in the hernia are constricted causing the decreased or full loss of blood supply to the protruding tissues. If the blood supply is cut off at the hernia opening in the intestinal wall, it becomes a medical and surgical emergency every bit the tissue needs oxygen (which is transported past the claret).

What Are the Different Types of Hernias?

Mutual types of abdominal wall hernias include the following:

Inguinal (groin) hernia: Making up 75% of all abdominal wall hernias and occurring up to 25 times more frequently in men than women, these hernias are divided into two different types, straight and indirect. Both occur in the groin area where the skin of the thigh joins the torso (the inguinal crease), just they have slightly unlike origins. Both of these types of hernias tin can similarly appear as a bulge in the inguinal area. Distinguishing between the direct and indirect hernia, notwithstanding, is important as a clinical diagnosis.
- Indirect inguinal hernia: An indirect hernia follows the pathway that the testicles fabricated during fetal development, descending from the abdomen into the scrotum. This pathway normally closes before birth but may remain a possible site for a hernia in subsequently life. Sometimes the hernia sac may beetle into the scrotum. An indirect inguinal hernia may occur at any age.
- Direct inguinal hernia: The direct inguinal hernia occurs slightly to the within of the site of the indirect hernia, in an area where the intestinal wall is naturally slightly thinner. It rarely will protrude into the scrotum and can cause pain that is hard to distinguish from testicle hurting. Unlike the indirect hernia, which tin occur at any age, the directly hernia tends to occur in the middle-aged and elderly because their intestinal walls weaken as they historic period.
Femoral hernia: The femoral culvert is the path through which the femoral artery, vein, and nerve get out the intestinal cavity to enter the thigh. Although unremarkably a tight infinite, sometimes it becomes large enough to allow intestinal contents (ordinarily intestine) to protrude into the canal. A femoral hernia causes a burl but beneath the inguinal crease in roughly the middle of the upper leg. Normally occurring in women, femoral hernias are especially at risk of becoming irreducible (not able to be pushed back into identify) and strangulated (cutting off blood supply). Not all hernias that are irreducible are strangulated (take their blood supply cut off), but all hernias that are irreducible need to be evaluated by a health care professional.
Umbilical hernia: These common hernias (10%-30%) are often noted in a child at nascence as a protrusion at the belly button (the umbilicus). An umbilical hernia is caused when an opening in the child'south abdominal wall, which ordinarily closes before nativity, doesn't close completely. If small (less than half an inch), this blazon of hernia usually closes gradually past age 2. Larger hernias and those that practice non close by themselves normally require surgery when a child is 2 to 4 years of age. Even if the expanse is closed at nativity, umbilical hernias tin appear later in life because this spot may remain a weaker identify in the abdominal wall. Umbilical hernias can appear later in life or in women who are pregnant or who have given birth (due to the added stress on the area). They unremarkably exercise not cause abdominal pain.
Incisional hernia: Abdominal surgery causes a flaw in the intestinal wall. This flaw can create an area of weakness through which a hernia may develop. This occurs later on two%-10% of all abdominal surgeries, although some people are more than at gamble. Even after surgical repair, incisional hernias may render.
Spigelian hernia: This rare hernia occurs along the edge of the rectus abdominus muscle through the spigelian fascia, which is several inches lateral to the middle of the abdomen.
Obturator hernia: This extremely rare abdominal hernia develops by and large in women. This hernia protrudes from the pelvic cavity through an opening in the pelvic bone (obturator foramen). This will not evidence whatever bulge merely can deed similar a bowel obstruction and cause nausea and airsickness. Because of the lack of visible bulging, this hernia is very hard to diagnose.
Epigastric hernia: Occurring between the belly button and the lower part of the rib cage in the midline of the abdomen, epigastric hernias are equanimous unremarkably of fat tissue and rarely contain intestine. Formed in an expanse of relative weakness of the abdominal wall, these hernias are oftentimes painless and unable to be pushed dorsum into the abdomen when first discovered.
Hiatal hernia: This type of hernia occurs when part of the stomach pushes through the diaphragm. The diaphragm normally has a small opening for the esophagus. This opening tin can become the place where part of the tum pushes through. Pocket-sized hiatal hernias tin can exist asymptomatic (cause no symptoms), while larger ones tin cause pain and heartburn.
Diaphragmatic hernia: This is ordinarily a birth defect causing an opening in the diaphragm, which allows abdominal content to button through into the chest cavity.

SLIDESHOW

Kidney Stones: Symptoms, Causes, and Handling See Slideshow

What Are Causes and Risk Factors for Hernias?

Although intestinal hernias can be nowadays at birth, others develop afterward in life. Some involve pathways formed during fetal development, existing openings in the abdominal cavity, or areas of abdominal wall weakness.

Any condition that increases the pressure of the abdominal crenel may contribute to the formation or worsening of a hernia. Examples include
- obesity,
- heavy lifting,
- coughing,
- straining during a bowel movement or urination,
- chronic lung disease, and
- fluid in the abdominal cavity.
A family history of hernias can make yous more likely to develop a hernia.

What Are Hernia Symptoms and Signs?

Readers Comments 50
Share Your Story

The signs and symptoms of a hernia can range from noticing a painless lump to the severely painful, tender, swollen protrusion of tissue that you are unable to push dorsum into the belly (an incarcerated strangulated hernia). Abdominal or pelvic hurting can be part of the symptoms of many hernias.

Reducible hernia
- It may appear as a new lump in the groin or other abdominal area.
- Information technology may ache but is not tender when touched.
- Sometimes pain precedes the discovery of the lump.
- The lump increases in size when standing or when abdominal pressure is increased (such as coughing).
- It may be reduced (pushed back into the abdomen) unless very large.
Irreducible hernia
- It may be an occasionally painful enlargement of a previously reducible hernia that cannot be returned into the abdominal cavity on its own or when y'all push it.
- Some may exist chronic (occur over a long term) without hurting.
- An irreducible hernia is also known as an incarcerated hernia.
- Information technology can lead to strangulation (blood supply beingness cutting off to tissue in the hernia).
- Signs and symptoms of bowel obstruction may occur, such as nausea and vomiting.
Strangulated hernia
- This is an irreducible hernia in which the entrapped intestine has its blood supply cutting off.
- Pain is ever present, followed apace by tenderness and sometimes symptoms of bowel obstruction (nausea and airsickness).
- The affected person may appear sick with or without fever.
- This condition is a surgical emergency.

When Should You Call a Doctor for a Hernia?

All newly discovered hernias or symptoms that suggest you might have a hernia should prompt a visit to the doctor. Hernias, even those that ache, if they are not tender and easy to reduce (pushed back into the abdomen), are not necessarily surgical emergencies, but all have the potential to go serious. Referral to a surgeon should generally be made and then that the demand for surgery can be established and the procedure can be performed as an constituent surgery and avoid the risk of emergency surgery should your hernia go irreducible or strangulated.

If you find a new, painful, tender, and irreducible lump, information technology's possible you may have an irreducible hernia, and you should have it checked in an emergency setting. If y'all already have a hernia and information technology suddenly becomes painful, tender, and irreducible, you should also become to the emergency department. Strangulation of intestine inside the hernia sac can atomic number 82 to gangrenous (dead) bowel in as little equally six hours. Not all irreducible hernias are strangulated, but they need to be evaluated.

Which Type of Doctors Treat Hernias?

Your principal care doctor will be able to diagnose and initially treat many hernias. Definitive treatment will commonly require surgery. Depending on the location of the hernia, the hernia repair will usually be performed past a general surgeon.

How Are Hernias Diagnosed?

If y'all have an obvious hernia, the health intendance professional may not crave any other tests (if yous are healthy otherwise) to make a diagnosis. If you accept symptoms of a hernia (dull ache in groin or other body area with lifting or straining but without an obvious lump), the medico may feel the area while increasing intestinal pressure (having you stand or cough). This action may make the hernia able to exist felt. If you have an inguinal hernia, the dr. will experience for the potential pathway and await for a hernia by inverting the skin of the scrotum with his or her finger. X-rays (frequently CT scans) tin can assist in the diagnosis or evaluating the extent of the hernia.

What Is the Treatment for Hernias?

Readers Comments eight
Share Your Story

Hernia treatment can be bourgeois (such as ascertainment and support with trusses) if the hernia is not affecting your daily routine or does not cause astringent pain. Curative treatment consists of surgery. Laparoscopic surgery has taken the place of traditional hernia surgery for some of the abdominal hernias. Herniorrhaphy is the surgical repair of a hernia.

Volition You Need Surgery for a Hernia?

Readers Comments 6
Share Your Story

Surgical hernia repair is the ultimate treatment. The timing of handling of a hernia and technique for treatment depends on whether information technology is reducible or irreducible and perchance strangulated.

Reducible hernia
- In general, all hernias should exist repaired to avoid the possibility of future intestinal strangulation.
- If you have preexisting medical atmospheric condition that would make surgery unsafe, your medico may not repair your hernia just will watch it closely.
- Rarely, your doctor may advise against surgery because of the special status of your hernia.
  - Some hernias have or develop very large openings in the intestinal wall, and closing the opening is complicated because of their big size.
  - These kinds of hernias may be treated without surgery, perchance using abdominal binders.
  - Some doctors feel that the hernias with large openings have a very depression risk of strangulation.
- The treatment of every hernia is individualized, and a discussion of the risks and benefits of surgical versus nonsurgical management needs to take place between the doctor and patient.
Irreducible hernia
- All acutely irreducible hernias demand emergency hernia repair because of the gamble of strangulation.
- An try to reduce (push back) the hernia will by and large be made, often later on giving medicine for pain and muscle relaxation.
- If unsuccessful, emergency surgery is needed.
- If successful, however, treatment depends on the length of the time that the hernia was irreducible.
  - If the intestinal contents of the hernia had the blood supply cutting off, the development of dead (gangrenous) bowel is possible in as niggling as vi hours.
  - In cases in which the hernia has been strangulated for an extended time, a surgeon will perform surgery to cheque whether the intestinal tissue has died and to repair the hernia.
  - In cases in which the length of time that the hernia was irreducible was brusk and gangrenous bowel is not suspected, y'all may be discharged from the hospital.
If a hernia that appears irreducible is finally reduced, it is of import for a patient to consider a surgical correction. These hernias take a significantly college risk of getting incarcerated once more.

QUESTION

What is a hernia? See Reply

What Are the Complications After Surgery for a Hernia?

Readers Comments 100
Share Your Story

Risk of strangulation: In considering when to have a reducible hernia surgically repaired, it is important for a patient to know the hazard of strangulation.
- The risk varies with the location and size of the hernia and the length of time information technology has been nowadays.
- In full general, hernias with large sac contents with a relatively small opening are more than probable to get strangulated.
- Hernias that accept been present for many years may become irreducible.
Operative complications: Complication rates vary according to whether the surgery was elective or emergent, the hernia size and location, as well as the techniques used (open surgery or laparoscopic)
Most complications occur over the short term and are hands treatable.
- The hernia that comes back afterwards initial surgical repair tin can be repaired by the same or an alternating method.
- Complications of hernia repair include
  - recurrence (most mutual),
  - urinary retentiveness,
  - wound infection,
  - fluid build-up in scrotum (called hydrocele formation),
  - scrotal hematoma (bruise), and
  - testicular damage on the affected side (rare).

Is Follow-upward Needed After Hernia Treatment?

To lower the risk of a hernia condign irreducible or strangulated, the sooner a reducible hernia is repaired the better.

What Activities Should Y'all Avoid If You Have a Hernia?

In general, all hernias should be repaired unless astringent preexisting medical conditions make surgery dangerous. The possible exception to this is a hernia with a large opening. Trusses and surgical belts or bindings may be helpful in holding back the protrusion of selected hernias when surgery is not possible or must be delayed. However, they should never be used in the example of femoral hernias.

Avoid activities that increment intra-abdominal pressure level (lifting, cough, or straining) that may cause the hernia to increase in size.

Is It Possible to Preclude a Hernia?

Yous can do lilliputian to prevent areas of the intestinal wall from being or becoming weak, which can potentially become a site for a hernia. Modifying your behavior and weight loss can help prevent worsening of the hernia.

From

Hernia Types

No matter what you make or build, it'southward the seams that are the hardest part to get correct. On a slice of clothing, a loose seam will be prone to tear; make it too tight and it will restrict move. On a business firm, that loose board will crusade the roof to leak, and if there isn't enough room for expansion, stuff will start to buckle.

As information technology turns out, the body has numerous seams that demand to be made just correct so that they don't pull apart and let body parts slide into places they don't belong. The abdomen is surrounded by numerous muscles to proceed the breadbasket, small intestine, and colon where they belong, but if 1 of these organs starts to slip though a weakness or a hole in the muscles, it'due south called a hernia.

References

Elnahas, A., S.H. Kim, A. Okrainec, F. Quereshy, and T.D. Jackson. "Is laparoscopic repair of incarcerated abdominal hernias safe? Analysis of short-term outcomes." Surg Endosc 30.eight Baronial 2022: 3262-3266.

Patient Comments & Reviews

Hernia - Symptoms
What symptoms did you lot feel with your hernia?
Post View 50 Comments
Hernia - Prognosis
Did y'all take surgery for your hernia, and what was the prognosis?
Post View 100 Comments
Hernia - Treatment
What was the handling for your hernia?
Post View 8 Comments
Hernia - Surgery
Did yous take surgery to repair your hernia?
Post View 6 Comments