About Hernias

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We want you to return to health as soon as possible.

We understand that being diagnosed with a hernia can be scary and stressful. You probably have a lot of questions and some anxiety. This guide is designed to help you understand hernias, common terms used with hernias, how hernias are diagnosed, what surgeries are appropriate and what to expect with surgery. Your surgeon will go into more detail regarding your specific situation. Our goal at The PATCH Institute is to arm you with information, provide you with the best experience, and give you the best results.

A hernia occurs when the inside layers of the abdominal wall have weakened, resulting in a bulge or tear. In the same way that an inner tube pushes through a damaged tire, the inner lining of the abdomen pushes through the weakened area of the abdominal wall to form a small balloon-like sac.

The weakness may be present at birth, can be caused by wear and tear of daily living, or by surgeries.

Men, women and children of all ages can get a hernia.

A hernia does not get better over time, nor will it go away by itself.

The wall of the abdomen has natural areas of potential weakness. Hernias can develop at these areas.

Anyone can develop a hernia at any age.

Surgeries that require cutting through the abdominal wall can also create weaknesses and hernias.

The common areas where hernias occur are in the groin (inguinal), belly button (umbilical), and the site of a previous operation (incisional).

You may notice a bulge under the skin.

You may feel pain when you cough, lift heavy objects, strain during bowel movements or urination, or during prolonged standing or sitting.

Some hernias do not cause pain or a bulge, and may be discovered during CT or MRI, or during routine physical exam.

You should always have a hernia evaluated by a doctor. The doctor will help you determine if surgery is necessary and if surgery is safe in your situation.

You should have surgery if the hernia is enlarging rapidly, causing pain or limiting the activities you do normally.

You should have it fixed, if you’ve had an intestinal blockage due to a hernia.

Hernias that aren’t causing pain, intestinal blockage and aren’t enlarging can sometimes be observed. Consult your doctor.

A hernia repair usually involves 2 steps:

• Closing the hole or weakened area

• Applying mesh to reinforce the repair

Repairs can be accomplished with open, laparoscopic, robotic or a combination of techniques. Each technique has its pros and cons. Usually repairs using small incisions, such as laparoscopic or robotic, lead to faster recovery and less complications.

Larger or recurrent hernias can be very complex and require a hernia specialist to obtain the best results. The hernia specialist will have more knowledge, tools, techniques and skills to tailor the best operation to your situation.