Hernia

A hernia is an abnormal bulging or protrusion of certain internal organs. It happens when an internal body part pushes through the wall of muscles & tissues responsible for holding it together in its place. When these muscles & tissues become weak, they lose their strength to hold the organs that can result in a hernia. Hernias usually occur anywhere within the abdominal cavity, that is, between the chest and hips.

The primary cause of hernia is the weakening of muscles that are responsible for holding these organs in place. Muscle weakening can occur due to several reasons. They may be weak from birth or lose their strength with ageing and repeated strains of the abdominal and groin areas. These strains can result from physical exertion, obesity, constipation, pregnancy, persistent and frequent coughing.

• An abnormal bulge or lump in or around the abdomen and groin
• Pain and discomfort in the abdomen, pelvis or groin
• Swelling in the groin
• Pain while lifting
• Frequently appearing bulge
• Bowel obstruction

Hernias can be easily detected as the bulge can be felt and seen during a physical exam. If the bulge is not very clear, your doctor may recommend some imaging tests such as a CT scan to view and diagnose your condition.

Hernia treatment usually involves the surgical correction of the bulge as they do not get better on their own. There are two types of surgeries for hernia treatment:

Open surgery – Open hernia surgery is a conventional surgery in which your surgeon makes a large incision on your body to access the protrusion. Through this incision, the protruding tissues are placed back into their position. Your surgeon continues to stitch the incision back together.

Laparoscopic surgery – A laparoscopic surgery is an advanced way in which your surgeon accesses your protrusion in a minimally invasive manner. In this procedure, your surgeon makes several small incisions to push your hernia back into its place.