What is hernia and how it is treated?

Hernia is a swelling of the anterior abdominal wall and is due to the bulging of internal content through week abodominal wall. It may be due to weakening of muscles or following an incision for any operation with improper healing called incisional hernia.

The swelling from other disease like any lump or tumor and swelling of hernia is differentiated by seeing the nature of swelling as the swelling of hernia dissapear on changing position like in lying down or can be reduced by pushing it back in the abdomen.

Types of hernia

Most common type of hernia is inguinal hernia which is present in the inguinal region, others are femoral hernia, umbilical hernia which is present in children and is due to most probably weak umbilical scar. Though the second most common type of hernia is incisional hernia and femoral hernia is third most common and more present in women.

There are some special type of hernia like Spigelian hernia, Littre,s hernia, Cloquet,s hernia, Maydle,s hernia which depends on the site of occurance. Though the basic pathology of hernia is same as protusion of internal objects due to weakening of the covering muscles.

Symptoms of hernia

The main complaints from the patient is of swelling which often dissapears on changing position and reappears on strain like coughing or sneezing. Gradually the size of swelling increases and often pain is associated which becomes intense and unbearable if there is any twist or strangulation of the hernia which is an indication of surgical emergency. In this the swelling does not disappear, not even by reducing it manually and there is unbearable pain. The abdominal contents in thsi case ets trapped in the hernia and becomes necrosed and gangrenous. Thus emergency surgical operation is required in these condition.

In some cases of hernia there may be herniation of intestine, and this is a risky situation and the chances of mortality increases.

Treatment of hernia

Even if any one claim,it should be clear that there is no treatment of hernia with medicines whether it may be allopathic, ayurvedic or homeopathy. The one and only treatment of hernia is surgical treatment.

Even in the initial stage of hernia if there is no symptoms like pain or discomfort, still one should not delay in treatment as there is always a risk of twist and strangulation leading to formation of gangrene of the trapped abdominal contents. This condition may be life threatening, thus treatment should be done beofre this condition arrives.

How hernia is repaired

The repair of herinia is done by a mesh. There are two methods of hernia repair, one by open surgery in which abdomen is opened and other is laproscopic or key hole surgery.

Open surgery for hernia repair

In open surgery abdomen is opened by a wide incision and the protuded object is reduced and the wall is repaired by a mesh. This type of operation is though less time taking but patient has to remain in hospital for 1 or 2 weeks, bleeding is more, there may be pain and discomfort and the chance of infection is much more. Even after discharge from hospital patient has to take precautions for 3 to 6 months as there may be a chance of incisional hernia at the operation site if one carries heavy weight or there is any infection.

Laproscopic surgery of hernia

Laproscopic surgery is the modern method of hernia repair where instead of large incision, only three holes of 5 to 10 mm are made to insert the laproscopic tool and the hernia is repaired with a mesh. This is a patient friendly operation and the pain and discomfort is much less than open type of surgery. The patient can leave hospital within 2 days, the chances of infection is less and the patient can resume his normal duty within a week. Though the laproscopic surgery need a highly skilled surgeon and is a costly affair. One should go for laproscopic surgery only in renound hospitals like Apollo, Wockhardt hospitals.

There are several medical insurances which pay 100% of the cost of treatment including the post operative medicines.