Hernia Treatment
Hernia Surgery Jacksonville, FL
Hernia Surgeon Dr. Matthew T. Smith
Hernias of all kinds can be notoriously painful and debilitating. It can also be visibility obvious since the outward bulging is a common symptom. They happen when an organ or piece of fatty tissue squeezes through a muscle or connective tissue. What makes hernias such a nuisance is that there’s no way to get rid of them once they develop outside of surgery. You can let them go for a time, but hernias can get larger and more painful with time. In some instances, they may even lead to more health complications.
How Do Hernias Develop?
A unique combination of circumstances causes hernias. Through an unfortunate combination of exertion and a weak or open muscle or fascia, the pressure pushes an organ or piece of fatty tissue through the opening. The weakened tissue or open muscle area can be the result of a birth defect or something that happened later in life. Here are some of the leading causes of hernias.
- Lifting heavy objects without properly stabilizing and preparing your abdominal muscles
- Severe cases of diarrhea or constipation
- Coughing or sneezing that’s persistent and heavy
- Obesity, pregnancy, malnutrition, and other conditions that weaken your muscles
Epigastric Hernia
Epigastric Hernias normally causes a bump to occur in the area below your sternum, or breastbone, and above your belly button. While they can be congenital, they generally tend to develop only later in life. In adults, more commonly in men, most epigastric hernias are acquired. They can be caused by increased pressure in the abdominal cavity. An epigastric hernia does not go away on its own, and complications will eventually lead you to surgery.
Ventral Incisional Hernia
Ventral incisional hernias hernias are hernias that often develop in the middle of the abdomen, that occur after a prior incision was made during a prior operation. This type of hernia bulges through an opening in the abdominal muscles. Unfortunately, it does not repair or go away on its own and will require surgery to repair. If left untreated, symptoms will worsen over time and may become even more difficult to repair.
Umbilical Hernia
Umbilical hernias often develop from increased intraabdominal pressure from heavy lifting, pregnancy, obesity, and abdominal distention which eventually results in hernia formation. While more common in females this can happen for males as well. An umbilical hernia creates a soft swelling or bulge near the navel. Typically, umbilical hernias are considered harmless. However, there is a risk that the hernia will become trapped, causing the blood supply to get cut off, which may lead to life-threatening conditions such as gangrene.
Inguinal Hernia
An inguinal hernia is a bulge that occurs in your groin region, the area between the lower part of your abdomen and your thigh. While inguinal hernias may not be dangerous, they will not repair on their own and may lead to life-threatening complications later on. Doctors usually recommend surgical repair of inguinal hernias if they get larger or painful. Inguinal hernias are fairly common, up to 1.6 million inguinal hernias are diagnosed annually in the United States.
Femoral Hernia
Your muscles are usually strong enough to support your intestines, however, your intra-abdominal tissues can be pushed through a weakened spot in your muscle when you overstrain. If a portion of tissue pushes through the wall of the femoral canal, this is known as a femoral hernia. Elderly women are more likely than men to suffer from a femoral hernia. Overall, femoral hernias are not common. You may not even realize you have a femoral hernia. Small and moderate-sized hernias don’t usually cause any symptoms, while larger hernias may be more noticeable and can cause some discomfort. If left untreated, femoral hernias may lead to other health issues. As such, regardless of symptoms all femoral hernias should be surgically corrected.
Treatment for Hernias
If you think that you have one of these types of hernias, you should see a doctor immediately. There are several options utilized in the surgical repair of hernias. These include open, laparoscopic, and robotic-assisted repairs. Each treatment plan is tailored to the individual patient to provide the best surgical outcome while optimizing their recovery and returning them to normal activity. If you’re in the North Florida area, look no further than Dr. Matthew T. Smith, a highly skilled and capable surgeon who will remove your hernia and get you on the road to recovery as quickly as possible.
Dr. Smith is a highly skilled and capable surgeon who will repair your hernia and get you on the road to recovery as quickly as possible.
Dr. Smith at North Florida Surgeons is a board-certified surgeon who prioritizes patient preferences and education. You can be assured you are in good hands with your surgery and care. To discuss your gallbladder or surgical needs, give North Florida Surgeons a call today.
Hernia Surgery Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Hernia?
A Hernia is when tissue protrudes out a weakness or a hole in the abdominal wall or muscle.
Where do hernias occur?
The most common locations are at the navel (Umbilical), groin (Inguinal), or at a prior surgical site (Incisional).
What causes a hernia?
Typically, hernias develop through “wear and tear” of the tissue over time. Predisposing factors can include older age, Obesity, Chronic Straining or lifting, Acute injury, Connective Tissue Disorders, and Pregnancy. For some, there may be no identifiable cause for a hernia.
What are the symptoms of a hernia?
The most common presentation is a new lump or bulge on the abdomen or groin. This bulge will often get larger with straining or coughing. The lump is typically worse at the end of the day than in the morning following rest. Hernias can be painful or completely asymptomatic. Discomfort can range from mild pressure or sharp or burning sensations to severe, intense, sharp pain.
How are hernias classified?
Hernias are classified by location (Umbilical, Inguinal, Femoral, etc). Hernias are further characterized by response to physical exam. A Reducible hernia is one in which the hernia or lump of tissue can be pushed back through the abdominal defect. Conversely, an irreducible hernia is a hernia that is stuck in a pushed-out position and will not reduce or push back through a defect. This hernia is also referred to as an “Incarcerated” hernia. A strangulated hernia is when fat or bowel is pushed through a defect and gets stuck. When this happens, the tissue can become inflamed and swollen. This swelling will eventually constrict the blood flow to the stuck tissue. A strangulated bowel containing a hernia is a surgical emergency.
How are hernias diagnosed?
Most hernias can be accurately diagnosed on clinical exam. Additional workup may be required to diagnose a hernia that is not obvious on exam or for surgical planning. Imaging options include the use of ultrasound, computerized tomography (CT), or occasionally MRI imaging.
How are hernias treated?
A hernia is a defect or a hole in the abdominal wall. It will never go away on its own. The best one can hope for is that the hernia stays the same size with the same symptoms. The worst-case situation is that the hernia gets larger over time and possibly becomes more symptomatic. Taking this into account, if a hernia is symptomatic, surgery is generally recommended. If a hernia is asymptomatic, watchful waiting or observation may be a reasonable option. The decision to pursue surgical treatment in asymptomatic individuals depends on several factors. These factors are: age, activity level, risk factors, size of hernia, and patient preference. Hernia belts or Trusses are an additional nonsurgical option for individuals with larger reducible hernias. Surgery is the only treatment for incarcerated, strangulated, and femoral hernias.
What are the surgical options to repair my hernia?
The choice of repair is often surgeon-driven and takes into account patient factors such as age, health, prior abdominal surgeries, and size of the hernia. A hernia can be surgically repaired with an Open, Laparoscopic, or Robotic approach. This can be done with a primary closure (permanent suture/stitches) or by adding a mesh for reinforcement.
What are the benefits of minimally invasive (Laparoscopic or Robotic) surgery?
The incisions are typically smaller. Minimally invasive surgery may result in less pain, a lower infection rate, and a return to normal activity faster than an open repair.
What is mesh?
Mesh is a surgical implant used by hernia surgeons to improve the chances of a successful repair. The mesh can be made from various materials and can be permanent or dissolve over time. The decision to utilize mesh and the type of mesh selected largely depend on the location and size of your hernia.
Why is mesh used?
Mesh is utilized to provide reinforcement of the hernia repair. Conceptually, it is not dissimilar to a patch being selected to repair a car tire. The use of mesh in hernia repairs has been found to decrease hernia recurrences.
What are the risks and benefits of using a mesh in my hernia repair?
The main benefit is providing the best chance to reduce the chances of your hernia recurring or coming back. The risks, while uncommon, are: chronic pain, infection, and damage to nearby structures. If a complication occurs related to a mesh, it may necessitate an additional procedure to remove part or all of the mesh.
Does mesh cause pain after the surgery?
Some patients will have pain following surgery. This can be seen regardless of whether mesh is used in the repair. Studies have found that an equal number of patients with pain, regardless of whether mesh was utilized for the surgical repair.
What’s all this stuff I see about mesh complications on TV?
There have been many different types of mesh used over the past 30+ years. Some have been used for reasons other than hernia repairs, like pelvic floor reconstruction. Some have been recalled over that time for various reasons. In certain hernias, mesh is often used to achieve to lowest recurrence rates possible. It is important to realize that a mesh product is a foreign body. It is not native to your body. As such, complications, while very low, can arise following the use of a mesh product. It is not unlike the risk of other surgical implants seen in orthopedics (hip/knee replacement) or vascular surgery (grafts). The decision about which mesh, if any, will be made after careful consideration of the risks and benefits as it relates to your particular hernia.
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