A hernia happens when an internal organ pushes through a weak spot in your muscle or tissue. You can experience several types of hernias, including inguinal hernias, femoral hernias, umbilical hernias, and hiatal hernias. If you have a hernia, it’s important to treat it quickly.
The most common forms of hernia are:
- Inguinal hernia
- Femoral
- Umbilical
Other types of hernias include:
- Incisional hernia
- Epigastric hernia
SYMPTOMS
Symptoms depend on the type of hernia. In some cases, you may not have any symptoms.
For inguinal, femoral, umbilical, and incisional hernias, symptoms may include:
- An obvious swelling beneath the skin of the abdomen or the groin. It may be tender, and it may disappear when you lie down.
- A heavy feeling in the abdomen that sometimes comes with constipation oror blood in the stool.
- Discomfort in the abdomen or groin when lifting or bending over.
- A burning or aching sensation at the bulge
- Weakness or pressure in your groin
Pain and swelling around the testicles
TREATMENT
The treatment of hernias is exclusively surgical and belongs to the responsibility of the General Surgeon. Today, elective surgery is laparoscopic reconstruction. In all specialized centers abroad, laparoscopic treatment of hernias has been established and has replaced the classic open approach. The advantages of laparoscopic treatment are:
– Significantly less postoperative pain
– Lower rates of chronic pain compared to the open method
– Faster recovery and immediate return to work and daily activities
– Better aesthetic results as large incisions are avoided
– Lower recurrence rates compared to the open method according to the international literature
