Hernia Surgery

What is a Hernia?

A hernia occurs when an abdominal organ, usually the small intestine, protrudes through the abdominal wall. The protruding tissue may become obstructed or incarcerated, or may strangulate. In the latter case, blood flow to the tissue is impeded and the results may be life-threatening. Hernias do not heal on their own and may be uncomfortable or painful. Surgery is the only method to correct them. Small hiatal hernias, however, can sometimes be kept at bay through diet and medication. Among the most common procedures in the United States, hernia surgery is performed to push the protruding tissue back into place and repair the weakness in the abdominal wall which allowed it to pass through.

Types of Hernia

There are several types of hernias, differentiated by their locations in the body as follows:

Inguinal or femoral hernias, in the groin, upper thigh, scrotum or labia
Umbilical or navel hernias, in the region of the navel.
Incisional hernias, at the site of a previous surgery.
Hiatal hernias, in the diaphragm

The first three types of hernia present as visible bulges, while hiatal hernias are not visible or palpable.

Causes of Hernia

Hernias have a variety of causes. They may be congenital defects or may result from a congenital weakness in the abdominal wall exacerbated over time. Hernias may be more likely to form because of:

Family history of hernias
Obesity
Chronic cough due to smoking or disease
Pregnancy
Constipation
Straining to urinate
Enlarged prostate
Undescended testicles
Ascites, the buildup of abdominal fluid
Certain medical conditions, like Marfan syndrome
Weakened abdominal muscles due to poor nutrition or heavy lifting

Symptoms of Hernia

Depending on the location of the hernia, symptoms will vary. Abdominal hernias may be tender or painful to the touch and the patient may experience increased pain when lifting, coughing, or straining at urination or bowel movements. An abdominal hernia may seem to disappear at times when the protruding tissue is pushed back inside the abdominal wall. Once the weakness in the abdominal wall exists, however, the bulge of the hernia will inevitably reappear.

In the case of hiatal hernias, the symptoms are those of indigestion and may include heartburn; regurgitation, difficulty swallowing, bloating or shortness of breath.

Although a patient with an abdominal hernia may be asymptomatic, once a hernia is discovered through physical examination, it must be dealt with. In the case of small hernias, the doctor may opt to just keep a careful watch, but in the event that the hernia is large or in the process of enlarging, surgery will be necessary.

Diagnosis of Hernia

An abdominal hernia is frequently diagnosed through physical examination, but confirming diagnostic tests are often run, particularly when the patient is obese and physical examination if inconclusive. Such diagnostic tests may include abdominal X-rays or ultrasound. When a hiatal hernia is suspected, the patient may undergo an upper endoscopy, a barium swallow or an esophageal manometry or pressure study. Blood tests may also be required.

Treatment of Hernia

To repair a hernia of any type surgery is necessary. Surgery is usually recommended when hernias are large or are interfering with the patient's normal activities, but may also be undertaken prophylactically to prevent the danger of future incarceration or strangulation. When strangulation occurs and blood flow is cut off to the patient's tissue, that tissue begins to die and gangrene is a possible consequence. Once this happens, emergency surgery is required.

There are two major types of hernia surgery, both performed under general anesthesia:

Laparoscopy

Laparoscopic hernia surgery is minimally invasive. In this type of procedure, the surgeon makes several small incisions. As a result, laparoscopy results in less scarring, less bleeding, less pain, and a shorter recovery time, usually 1 to 2 weeks.

Open Surgery

While there are significant advantages to laparoscopic hernia surgery, there are some patients for whom such surgery is contraindicated. If the patient is obese, or if there is extensive scar tissue left from a previous surgery, the surgeon may have to do an open procedure requiring a deeper incision and a longer recovery time, usually about 6 weeks.

Risks of Hernia

While hernia surgery is one of the most common surgeries performed, and although the success rate for this procedure is extremely high, there are always risks with any surgery. Some of the possible complications are listed below:

Excessive bleeding
Blood Clots
Adverse reactions to anesthesia or medications
Post-surgical infection
Damage to adjacent organs
Breathing problems

Recovery from Hernia Repair Surgery

Some rest is required after any hernia repair surgery, and there is some pain, but recovery usually goes quite smoothly. Within a week or two after most hernia repairs, the patient can return to a normal schedule.

In the case of abdominal hernias, the patient must refrain from strenuous activity or heavy lifting for 4 to 6 weeks or until healing is complete. Patients recovering from hiatal hernia repair are usually advised to eat small portions and to stick to a soft diet for several days. Any residual digestive problems these patients experience, such as loss of appetite, bloating or increased flatulence, commonly resolve over a short period of time.

For all hernia repair patients, the area at the incision site will be tender, especially for the first week. During this time, the incision should be protected during activity that increases abdominal pressure. The patient should apply firm but gentle pressure on the incision line when coughing, sneezing, vomiting, or bearing down during a bowel movement.

Complex Hernias

Complex hernias are hernias that recur after surgical repair, or even after multiple repairs. A hernia occurs when tissue or part of an organ protrudes through the abdominal wall. During surgical repair, the abdominal wall is reinforced at its weak point to prevent recurrence of the problem.

Because scar tissue develops at the repair site, however, if the area re-herniates, each successive surgery becomes more difficult and is less likely to be successful. Complex hernias may also be associated with further complications, including infections, bowel perforations, or fistulas, where an abnormal attachment is formed between two organs.

Reasons for Complex Hernias

Complex hernias may be caused by inadequate surgical repair of the original hernia or may result from the same events that caused the original hernia, such as:

Strenuous exercise
Increased pressure within the abdomen due to accumulation of fluid
Straining during bowel movements or urination
Heavy lifting
Pregnancy
Excessive weight gain
Chronic coughing or sneezing
Abdominal injury or post-surgical complications

Types of Complex Hernias

Unfortunately, any type of hernia may recur. Types of hernia include:

Abdominal hernia
Pelvic hernia
Inguinal hernia
Incisional hernia
Hiatal hernia
Umbilical hernia

Complex Hernia Repair

Complex hernias require surgical repair. Since hernias repaired by pulling tissue together and suturing it have a greater rate of recurrence than those repaired using surgical mesh, repair of complex multiple recurrent hernias usually utilizes the latter technique. Modern tension-free mesh repair generally results in a better surgical outcome. Sometimes a biologic mesh graft, created from human or animal sources, may be used because it offers resistance to infections.

Surgical hernia repairs may be done with open surgery or laparoscopically. Where laparoscopic surgery is possible, it is a much less invasive procedure, requiring smaller incisions and resulting in less pain, less scarring, and a shorter recovery period.

Risks of Complex Hernias

Hernias, particularly when they have recurred, do not resolve on their own. In fact, they tend to grow larger and more problematic over time, causing more swelling and pain. There is also the danger that an untreated hernia may incarcerate, where tissue becomes trapped in the hernia, or strangulate, in which case blood flow to organs is impeded. Either of these situations is a medical emergency.