What are abdominal hernias?
It is a medical condition in which an organ or a part of tissue that breaks through one of the weakened muscle wall and gets enclosed in a cavity.
The most common types of abdominal hernias are:
- Inguinal hernia
- Hiatal hernia
- Umbilicus
Inguinal hernia
This is the most common type of hernia. In this, a part of the intestine pushes through a torn abdominal wall, most common in the inguinal canal.
The inguinal canal is located at the base of the abdomen. It is an opening that permits spermatic cord and testicle to descend from the abdomen into the scrotum as the fetus develops and matures. In women, the inguinal canal contains a ligament that holds the uterus in place. They occur more commonly in men.
Symptoms include:
- Pain in the affected area.
- Pressure or heaviness in the abdomen.
- Burning or aching in the bulged area.
Hiatal hernia
This is a condition where the upper part of the stomach is pushed through the diaphragm into the chest region. The diaphragm is a large muscle that lies between the chest and the abdomen. The causes may include:
- Injury
- Excessive coughing
- Excessive vomiting or
- Lifting heavy objects
Symptoms:
- Acid reflux
- Difficulty swallowing
- Chest pain
Umbilical hernia
The umbilical cord is the one that connects the mother and the fetus in the womb by passing through a small opening between their abdominal walls. Hernia occurs when the abdominal walls do not join and tissues from the abdominal cavity escape through the opening.
Treatment options for hernia
- Wait and watch by changing the lifestyle
- Medications
- Surgery
Wait and watch and lifestyle change:
In cases where the condition is minor, the wait and watch approach can be tried. To relieve the symptoms, certain lifestyle changes need to be made.
- To get rid of acid reflux from hiatal hernia, the patient should eat light meals and spicy food. Also, he should be should not stay empty stomach for more than 2 hours.
- Secondly, exercises can be done to strengthen the muscles. However, these exercises must be done by consulting the physical therapist as the pressure in the area may increase due to improper exercise.
Medications:
Medications are also mostly used for symptomatic relief. These include antacids for acid reflux and pain-killers for pain in the affected area.
Surgery
Surgery is the ultimate choice of treatment for the abdominal hernias. In cases, where the symptoms are worsening.
There are 2 types of surgeries that are most commonly done:
- Open surgery
- Laparoscopic surgery
Open surgery: Open hernia repair is also known as herniorrhaphy.
Procedure
The patient is administered either local anesthesia or sedated with general anesthesia.
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A large incision is made in the groin area.
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A hernia is moved back to its original place and the abdominal wall is reinforced with synthetic mesh.
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The incision is closed back with multiple stitches.
The patient can go back home the same day of the surgery. However, he will need to do some bed rest.
Laparoscopic surgery
A small fiber-optic device known as the laparoscope is inserted inside the abdominal wall, where a hernia is located. This device transforms the images inside the body on the monitor.
Procedure:
A few small incisions are made in the abdomen near a hernia.
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The tube-shaped device is inserted through the incision with a camera at the other end.
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The instruments are inserted and the hernia is repaired.
The recovery is faster than the open hernia repair.
101-year-old underwent a successful hernia surgery at Apollo Hospital, Mumbai. He was diagnosed with a hernia at the age of 90. After consulting Dr. Shalin Dubey, he was advised to undergo laparoscopic surgery. He is now recovering fast and living a normal life.
Several such surgeries are done every day by some of the best doctors for hernia repair in India.
Cost
It varies according to the case of each patient and place of the surgery. However, the cost of hernia repair surgery in India is quite affordable as compared to other countries.
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