A hernia is a weakness or defect in the abdominal wall. It may be present from birth, or develop over a period of time. If the defect is large enough, abdominal contents such as the bowels, may protrude through the defect causing a lump or bulge which can be felt by the patient.
Hernias develop at certain sites which have a natural tendency to be weak; the groin, umbilicus (belly button), and previous surgical incisions.
Signs and Symptoms
- Lump in groin area when standing/straining & disappears when reclining
- Pain at the site of the lump, especially when lifting a heavy object
- Swelling of the scrotum
- Excruciating abdominal pain (if you have strangulation)
- Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite & pain (if intestinal obstruction occurs)
Course of hernia
Once a hernia has developed, it will tend to enlarge and cause discomfort. If a loop of bowel gets caught in the hernia, it may become obstructed or its blood supply may be cut off. This could then become a life-threatening situation. Since hernias can be repaired effectively and with minimal risk, most surgeons therefore recommend that hernias be repaired when diagnosed, unless there is serious medical problem which makes it too risky.
Treatment - Hernia Repair
Open Surgery
The standard method of hernia repair involves making an incision 6-10cm long, in the abdominal wall. Normal healthy tissues are cut until the area of weakness is found. This area, the hernia, is then repaired with sutures and a prosthetic material (mesh) is sutured in place to strengthen the area of weakness. Finally, the skin and other healthy tissues that were cut at the beginning are sutured back together to complete the repair.
Hernia repair with an open technique is still a valid option, achieving the highest standards of repair.
Open surgery can be performed under general (asleep) or local (awake) anaesthesia.
Laparoscopic Surgery
Newer, advanced techniques for hernia repair involve minimally invasive laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery. Laparoscopic techniques of hernia repair are now approved by NICE (National Institute for Clinical Effectiveness) for all types of groin hernia.
Laparoscopic repair is as effective as traditional open surgery. Both carry a 1-2% risk of hernia rercurrence.
Recovery and return to normal activity is faster following laparoscopic surgery.
The risk of longterm groin pain and nerve injury, causing numbness or tingling in the groin, is greatly reduced with laparoscopic surgery.
Laparoscopic surgery is performed under general anaesthesia (asleep).
I offer both open and laparoscopic hernia surgery, including local anaesthesic repair.
For the majority of patients this is day-case surgery.
Following laparosopcic surgery patients can return to normal activity immediately.
For further information and appointments please call 01273 627059 (Contact Details)
