Hernia

A hernia is a medical condition. If an organ or its tissue moves from its normal position through to another position, it is called a hernia.

Hernia
Diagram of an indirect inguinal hernia (view from the side)
Medical specialty	General surgery
Symptoms	Pain especially with coughing, bulging area[1]
Complications	Bowel strangulation[1]
Usual onset	< 1 year and > 50 years old (groin hernias)[2]
Risk factors	Smoking, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, obesity, pregnancy, peritoneal dialysis, collagen vascular disease, connective tissue disease[1][2][3]
Diagnostic method	Based on symptoms, medical imaging[1]
Treatment	Observation, surgery[1]
Frequency	18.5 million (2015)[4]
Deaths	59,800 (2015)[5]

There are various types of hernia. Most hernias happen in the abdomen. Hernias sometimes give pain and/or a lump that can be felt or seen.

The cause can be hereditary or it can be from lifting objects, especially lifting ones that are too heavy, or if it is done in a wrong way. There are other things that can give hernias. Hernias, especially if small or mild, can be treated with medicine. But it will not go away from this treatment, although it will relieve symptoms.

Types of hernia

• Inguinal Hernia - Inguinal hernia occurs when a small portion of the intestine exits the inguinal canal and enters the femoral joint. Flatulence is a disorder of the esophagus, which usually involves the lining of the abdomen.^[6]
• Femoral Hernia - This type of hernia develops when fatty tissue or part of the intestines sticks out of the groin at the top of the inner part of the thigh. It is comparatively less common than inguinal hernia and mainly affects women.^[7]
• Umbilical Hernia - When a muscle or tissue hole opens near the umbilical cord, it starts coming out of the internal part of our body, it is called umbilical hernia. In umbilical hernia, there is swelling in the area around the navel.

Patient with a colostomy complicated by a large parastomal hernia.

Hernia treatments

Laparoscopic procedures for hernia repair

Laparoscopic, or minimally invasive, procedures use several small incisions to access the hernia no more than 1 centimeter in length. The abdomen is inflated with carbon dioxide to provide space for the surgeon to work, and the hernia is repaired with a small, flexible instrument called a laparoscope.^[8]

Open surgery

This is an open-cut surgery that is performed in the area of the hernia. In this procedure, the protruding tissues are set back, and the weak muscles are stitched up neatly. Also, these are times when a type of mesh will be inserted over the area to provide additional support.^[9]

Reconstructive surgery for hernia repair

Abdominal wall reconstruction repairs defects in the abdominal walls while reducing abdominal tension and providing structural support. This may require a component separation so that the muscular sides of the hernia gap can be brought together again. There are many more than just a one type of a hernia.