Abdominal Hernia Surgery in Sydney
What is an abdominal hernia?
An abdominal hernia is the bulging of an organ or tissue through a weak spot in the abdominal muscle wall. It may be seen as a lump or a bulge, and could cause pain. If left untreated, an abdominal hernia could cause serious complications.
What causes a hernia?
Some abdominal hernias are congenital, others are acquired later in life.
Anything that increases pressure in the abdomen could increase your risk of developing a hernia. Risk factors include:
- Being overweight
- Chronic cough (more common in smokers)
- Constipation
- Heavy lifting, without correctly engaging the abdominal muscles
- Pregnancy
Between 5% and 7% of the adult population will develop a hernia during their lifetime.
Where can hernias occur?
Abdominal hernias are classified according to their location.
Ventral hernias include:
- Epigastric hernia – These occur on the upper abdomen, just below the breastbone, and are common in men between the ages of 20 and 50. It is possible to have more than 1 epigastric hernia at a time.
- Umbilical hernia – These are found in the “belly button”. Umbilical hernias are common in babies, and these usually close on their own by the age of 5 years. When acquired in adulthood, umbilical hernias do not resolve on their own. These common hernias may be associated with pregnancy, obesity or ascites (abnormal fluid in the abdominal cavity).
- Incisional hernia – This occurs at the site of a surgical scar.
- Spigelian hernia – This is a rare type of hernia that causes a painful mass in the mid-to-lower abdomen. Due to a high rate of complications, early surgery is advised.
Groin hernias occur in the crotch area, and include:
- Inguinal hernias – These are more common, and occur higher in the groin.
- Femoral hernias – These are found lower down in the groin region, and are more common in females.
Pelvic and lumbar hernias are other, less common types of hernias.
(A hiatal hernia is the bulging of part of the stomach through the diaphragm, into the chest cavity. Hiatal hernias are discussed here.)
What problems can hernias cause?
Once a hernia has developed, it does not resolve on its own. A hernia is likely to increase in size, and may result in complications.
Initially, in most cases, the contents of an abdominal hernia are able to be pushed back through the abnormal opening in the abdominal wall. Patients may notice that they are able to “push the lump back” – this is a reducible hernia.
Complications are likely to occur if the contents of a hernia become stuck, and cannot be reduced to the abdominal cavity. This is called an incarcerated/ irreducible hernia.
An incarcerated hernia could result in an even more serious complication, called a strangulated hernia. A hernia is strangulated when the blood supply to the herniated tissue is cut off. This could result in a life-threatening complication, known as bowel necrosis. Bowel necrosis refers to the death of trapped intestinal tissue, which could lead to failure of multiple organs.
What is a recurrent hernia?
A recurrent hernia is a hernia that recurs after previous surgery. This is a complex problem, and usually requires a CT scan for pre-surgical evaluation. Abdominal wall reconstruction and/or preoperative Botox injections may be required for the treatment of this condition.
How are hernias treated?
Most hernias require surgical repair.
The approach chosen will depend on your individual health profile, as well as the characteristics of your hernia. Where possible, laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery is done. Open surgery may be required in some cases. Surgery usually involves the placement of a special (synthetic or bio-absorbable) mesh that prevents the hernia from recurring.
Sydney Surgical Clinic has extensive expertise in managing all types of hernias. During your consultation, we will discuss the best management plan, based on your individual health and the risks associated with your hernia.
