Abdominal Wall Hernias

Description

Hernias are defects of the abdominal wall through which part of the intestinal content exists and which adopt a lumpy form. In general, they appear through weak areas either for anatomic defects (umbilical, inguinal, crural…) or for defects caused by prior surgeries (in this case they are known as eventrations or incisional hernias).

Symptoms

Hernias may cause discomfort or localized pain in the same hernia or lump. It is also possible that the hernia is “strangled”, i.e., that the content of the hernia is trapped and necrotizes and infects, this causes much pain and it is necessary to perform an urgent surgical intervention to avoid greater complications.

Treatment

Treatment of hernias is always surgical and consists in repairing the defect, reducing the hernia and reinforcing the abdominal wall either with suture material or with a plastic mash, this option being the one mostly used at present given its lower level or relapse.
Surgical intervention may be performed with laparoscopy or with traditional surgery, as the case may be. If there are no complications, just one day in hospital will be required (in some cases patients can go home that same day) and patient’s recovery can be quick and very satisfactory.