Hernia Repair Surgery in Houston at Surgical Associates of Southern Texas

More About Hernia

When an organ pushes through a hole in the muscle or tissue that holds it in place, it causes a hernia. There are no or few symptoms in many cases, though we may notice a swelling or lump in the tummy (abdomen) or groyne. This peritoneal defect allows organs and tissues to push through or herniate, resulting in a bulge. Inguinal hernias, femoral hernias, umbilical hernias, and hiatal hernias are some of the different types of hernias that can occur. Hernias can be dangerous in addition to affecting quality of life. When a section of intestine is strangled inside a tight hernia, it may be cut off from an adequate blood supply and die. It is critical to treat a hernia as soon as possible.

Types of hernia

Hernias come in a variety of shapes and sizes. We’ll look at some of the most common ones here.

Inguinal hernias

An inguinal hernia emerges when tissue protrudes through a weak spot in the abdominal muscles, such as part of the intestine. They are visible as a groyne bulge. Groin hernias, which are more common in men than in women, can grow quite large, descend towards the testicles, and distort the testicular sac. An inguinal hernia is not always dangerous.

However, it does not improve on its own and can lead to life-threatening complications. The majority of groyne hernias are repaired with a long-lasting, tension-free mesh insert. Non-mesh repairs, on the other hand, are an option and can be performed under local or general anaesthesia, depending on the patient’s condition and preference.

Umbilical hernias

Umbilical hernia occurs when a portion of our intestine bulges through a hole in your abdominal muscles near your bellybutton. This type of hernia can develop in babies if the opening in the belly through which the umbilical cord moves fails to seal properly after birth. A soft swelling or bulge near the navel is caused by an umbilical hernia. The bulge in a baby with an umbilical hernia may be visible only when they cry, cough, or strain. Children’s umbilical hernias are usually painless. Umbilical hernias that develop in adulthood can cause abdominal pain.

Femoral hernias

A femoral hernia is a relatively uncommon type of hernia. Femoral hernias can emerge as a painful lump in the internal upper thigh or groyne. When we lie down, the lump is often pushed back in or disappears. The lump may appear as a result of coughing or straining. Femoral hernias are more common in women than in men. Femoral hernias are uncommon in the general population. The majority of groyne hernias are inguinal, and only about 3% of all hernias are femoral. The majority of femoral hernias do not cause signs and symptoms. Femoral hernias can be healed surgically by pushing the bulge back into position and strengthening the belly wall frailty. 

Hiatus hernias

A hiatus hernia, also known as a hiatal hernia, occurs when part of the stomach pushes up into the chest through a hole in the diaphragm. A hiatus hernia occurs when a portion of the stomach protrudes into the chest. It’s very common in people over the age of 50. If it is not causing any issues, it usually does not require treatment. It’s unknown what tends to cause hiatus hernia, but it could be due to the diaphragm weakening with age or abdominal stress. The preferred treatment options are lifestyle changes and medication. Surgery is generally advised only as a substitute to long-term medication or when other treatment options have failed.

What exactly causes a hernia?

All hernias ultimately result from a combination of pressure and a muscle or fascia opening or weakness; the pressure pushes an organ or tissue through the opening or weak spot. Muscle weakness can actually happen at birth, but it is more common later in life.

Umbilical hernias can develop during pregnancy when the umbilical cord passes through an opening in the abdominal muscles of an infant. Normally, the opening closes shortly after a baby is born. An umbilical hernia can occur at birth or later in life if the muscles in the middle of the abdominal wall do not fully join together. Obesity, multiple pregnancies, and previous abdominal surgery can all cause excessive abdominal pressure in adults, which can lead to umbilical hernias.

Weakened muscles, ageing, or repetitive strain on the abdominal and groyne areas can all lead to inguinal and femoral hernias. Regular exercise, lifting heavy objects, obesity, repeated coughing, or bowel problems can all contribute to this strain.

What are the signs and symptoms of a hernia?

When lying down, a hernia in the abdomen or groyne can cause a visible lump or bulge that can be pushed back in or disappear. Laughing, crying, coughing, straining throughout a bowel movement, or engaging in physical activity may cause the lump to pop back up after it has been pressed into the colon. Other signs of a hernia include:

• Swelling or bulging in the groyne or scrotum
• Elevated pain at the bulge site.
• discomfort while lifting.
• The size of the bulge grows larger over time.
• A dull aching feeling.
• A feeling of fullness or signs of bowel obstruction
• There are no bulges on the outside of the body in the case of hiatal hernias.

Hernias do not always cause symptoms. We  may not realise we have a hernia until it is discovered during a medical exam for an unrelated issue or a routine physical.

Diagnosis of Hernia

Physical examination usually reveals or feels a bulge in the area where a hernia has formed. The doctor feels the area around the testicles and groyne while the patient coughs as part of a typical physical exam for inguinal hernias in men. Soft-tissue imaging, such as a CT scan, can accurately diagnose the condition in some cases.
The doctor may also advise to get an MRI scan, especially if anyone have pain that worsens when they exercise. In the early stages, sports can cause a hernia with no visible bulge, but an MRI can detect a tear in the abdominal muscles. If the patient is a woman in her childbearing years, the doctor may recommend an ultrasound to rule out other pelvic conditions that can cause abdominal pain.

Hernia Repair Surgery

Hernias rarely heal on their own, and surgery may be the only way to repair them. The physician may simply want to keep an eye on the hernia for any complications. This method is known as watchful waiting.

Wearing a truss may help to alleviate hernia symptoms in some cases. A truss is a supportive undergarment that aids in the retention of the hernia. Before using a truss, always consult with the doctor to ensure that it fits properly. Hernia surgery can be performed in one of three ways:

Open surgery

An incision or cut in the groyne is made for open hernia repair. The bulging intestine is identified in the hernia “sac.” The hernia is then pushed back into the abdomen and the abdominal wall is strengthened with stitches or synthetic mesh. Most patients can go home a few hours after surgery and will be fine in a few days.

Laparoscopic surgery

The same types of repairs are performed during laparoscopic surgery. Instead of a cut to the outside of the abdomen or groyne, tiny incisions are made to allow surgical tools to be inserted to complete the procedure.

Robotic Surgery for Hernia Rapair

Robotic surgery is a newer technique for hernia repair in which the surgeon sits at a console and controls the surgical instruments from the console. In the operating room, the surgeon sits at a console and operates the surgical instruments from there. While robotic surgery can be used to repair minor hernias, it cannot be used to reconstruct the abdominal wall.

What can happen if we don’t treat a hernia?

Hernias, with the exception of umbilical hernias in babies, do not go away on their own. A hernia can become larger and more painful over time, or it can develop complications.

Untreated inguinal or femoral hernias can lead to the many complications. Part of the intestine will become stuck in the inguinal canal, causing nausea, throwing up, stomach problems, and a painful lump in the groyne. Strangulation takes place when a portion of the intestine is trapped in such a way that its blood supply is cut off. In such cases, immediate surgery within hours of the occurrence is required to prevent tissue death.