A hernia occurs when an internal organ protrudes through the wall around it. There are three general kinds of hernias, umbilical, incisional, and inguinal. An umbilical hernia occurs in the area of the navel. An incisional hernia occurs wherever there is an incision, particularly in the abdominal wall. An inguinal hernia occurs in the groin.
The most common type of inguinal hernia is due to a weakness in the natural ring that allows the testicles to descend into the scrotum before birth. A portion of the inner lining of the abdomen bulges beneath the skin near the thigh. One can often reduce the bulge simply by pushing it back into place. If the natural ring does not close fully at birth, the intestines can later slip through it. This type of hernia is more common in men. It can develop at any age. It is fairly common in infants less than one year old.
Another type of inguinal hernia is due to weakness in the muscle at the site. This can be due to ageing, injury, heavy lifting, pregnancy, obesity, coughing, or straining during bowel movements. An inguinal hernia often shows as a lump when the person stands or strains. The lump may go away when the patient lies down. Straining may cause a sharp, steady pain. With a small hernia the affected area may simply appear full. An examiner can feel the pressure of a hernia when the patient coughs.
Surgery can repair most inguinal hernias in a short and simple operation. Repair of a hernia is considered to be minor surgery and is used to close up the hole. The surgeon makes a small cut and pushes the lining of the abdomen and the intestine back to its normal position. The surgeon then closes the hole and reinforces the weakened muscle.
A rare but serious problem is a strangulated hernia. This occurs when the hernia opening pinches a loop of intestine so tightly that it cuts off (strangulates) the blood supply. Gangrene may develop. Gangrene is dead tissue that may quickly become infected. This is life-threatening and requires immediate surgery. A surgeon removes the portion of intestine, which is gangrenous and sews the healthy ends of the intestine back together. Full recovery may take a month.
If you notice a tender, bulging area in your groin, see your doctor. Not all hernias need surgery. In the elderly, in particular, a truss (which is a belt that places pressure on the hernia) may be adequate. Your surgeon will probably decide to postpone your surgery if you develop a cough or cold or other infectious illness. A cough can place stress on sutures in the groin or abdomen. After surgery, you should watch the area around the sutures for excessive redness, swelling, tenderness, or other signs of infection.
Article #5268
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