Hernia

• Femoral hernia, appears as a bulge in the upper thigh, just below the groin. This type is more common in women than men.
• Hiatal hernia occurs in the upper part of the stomach. In this hernia, part of the upper stomach pushes into the chest.
• Incisional hernia can occur through a scar if you have had abdominal surgery in the past.
• Inguinal hernia appears as a bulge in the groin. This type is more common in men than women. The bulge may go all the way down into the scrotum.
• Umbilical hernia appears as a bulge around the belly button. It occurs when the muscle around the navel doesn’t close completely.

• Most often there are no symptoms. However, sometimes there may be discomfort or pain. The discomfort may be worse when you stand, strain, or lift heavy objects. In time, most people will complain about a growth that feels tender and is growing.
• Although a hernia may only cause mild discomfort, it may get bigger and strangulate. This means that the tissue is stuck inside the hole and its blood supply has been cut off. If this occurs, you will need urgent surgery.

Surgery is the only treatment that can permanently fix a hernia. Surgery may be more risky for patients with serious medical problems. If the hernia is small and not causing symptoms, your surgeon may just need to watch it to make sure it is not growing or causing problems.

Surgery will usually be used for hernias that

• Are getting larger
• Are painful
• Cannot be reduced without surgery
• May involve a trapped piece of bowel

Emergency surgery is sometimes needed. The sac containing the intestine or other tissue may become stuck in the hole in the abdominal wall. If it cannot be pushed back through, this can lead to a strangulated loop of intestine. If left untreated, this portion of the intestine dies because it loses its blood supply.

Today, hernias can be fixed by open surgery or with the use of a laparoscope (camera). The advantages of using a camera include smaller surgical cuts, faster recovery, and less pain after the procedure.