What is a hernia?
The displacement of an organ due to pressure from where it is normally located is called a hernia.
In which organs is a hernia seen?
When we say hernia, we mostly think of abdominal hernias and lumbar hernias.
Hernias treated by general surgery are the groin, umbilical, surgery site and other abdominal hernias where the organs in the abdomen protrude from the abdominal wall. region hernias.
How does a hernia occur?
We accept that hernia occurs in two ways. The first ones are congenital and are seen in babies and children. These types of hernias occur because the holes in the abdominal wall that should have closed by the time of birth do not close. They become visible because the intra-abdominal pressure increases, especially when babies cry and strain.
The other one is hernias, which occur after the tissues wear out with aging and in situations that increase the intra-abdominal pressure. In both cases, increasing intra-abdominal pressure is the main factor.
What are the factors that increase intra-abdominal pressure?
It causes an existing but invisible hernia to be seen, weak holes rupture and hernia occurs. events that increase intra-abdominal pressure are: lifting heavy objects, constant cough, straining due to constipation or prostate disease, and doing heavy sports.
What are the symptoms of a hernia?
There are two complaints that can be seen in the presence of a hernia; swelling and pain. There is swelling at the site of the hernia, which can be seen visually or detected by examination. Sometimes this swelling is accompanied by pain. Sometimes, constipation may occur because the intestines inside the hernia sac cannot function easily, and bowel sounds can be heard over this hernia.
How is a hernia detected?
Swelling and pain are symptoms of hernia. Our patients who know the disease sometimes apply to us by making their own diagnosis. But most of the time, we make the diagnosis by seeing the swelling in the area of complaint. When you press on the swelling of the hernia, the swelling disappears as the contents of the hernia go into the abdomen, and it comes out again with coughing.
Are there different types of hernia?
Describe it. As we said earlier, there are many types of hernia. The most common ones are inguinal and umbilical hernias in infants and children; In adults, these are inguinal, umbilical and surgical site hernias. There are also rarer hernias.
How is hernia treated?
The only treatment for hernia is surgery, there is no treatment with a non-surgical procedure or medication. An exception is umbilical hernia in babies. Umbilical hernias can close spontaneously in babies up to the age of two. In umbilical hernias, one waits until the age of two to take advantage of this chance of closure. If the umbilical hernia still does not close after this age, surgery is necessary.
Do I have to have surgery, what happens if not?
There are two reasons why we perform hernia surgery. The first is to relieve complaints such as pain and swelling in the hernia area, and the other reason is to protect from hernia strangulation that may occur.
What is Hernia Strangulation?
The intestines entering the hernia sac are manually removed. It is a situation where it cannot be pressed and sent into the abdomen. It is an event that requires urgent surgery. The patient may experience pain, tenderness at the hernia site, nausea, vomiting, and constipation. Even the blood circulation of the intestines may be impaired. In such a case, the condition exceeds the extent of hernia and becomes a circulatory disorder of the intestines. Decay may begin in the intestines that cannot be operated on within six hours.
What is done in the surgery?
Hernia surgeries in babies and children are very easy. It is usually sufficient to simply remove the sheath that overflows from the hernia hole, which we call "hernia sac", and close the hole. In adults, after the hernia sac is removed, it is necessary to strengthen the weak area. Strengthening can sometimes be done by stitching the tissues together, and sometimes by placing a specially produced patch on the weak area.
Isn't the patch a foreign object, won't it harm the body?
Since it is a special material for hernia repair, it does not harm the body, you just need to take precautions to prevent infection.
Is anesthesia required for the surgery?
Hernia surgeries We usually do it under general anesthesia. But for suitable patients, surgery can also be performed with regional or local anesthesia. It can be done.
What kind of surgical procedure is the surgery?
There are two main methods of surgery. Open and closed (laparoscopic) approaches. In both methods, it is essential to close the hernia hole. In closed methods, a patch is placed inside the hernia hole. In open methods, the hole can be closed by stitching the tissues together, with or without using a patch.
What are other treatment methods?
There is no treatment for hernia other than surgery. Belts that exert external pressure, such as inguinal ligaments, do not prevent hernia complaints and intestinal strangulation. In addition, since they weaken the tissues, surgery must be performed with weak tissues; In this case, the possibility of the hernia recurring increases.
Do I need to stay in the hospital due to the surgery?
For infant and child hernias, you can go home a few hours after the surgery. Adults can sometimes be discharged on the same day, sometimes after a day of hospitalization.
What will my life be like after surgery? When can I return to work?
After discharge, light movements are allowed, heavy lifting is harmful. There is no restriction on food. Bathing is allowed. You can return to normal work a few days after closed surgery and a week after open surgery. You should not drive a car for the first few days (sudden pressing of the pedal causes groin strain, pain and hernia recurrence).
When can I do sports after the surgery?
First After a week, light sports that will not increase intra-abdominal pressure can be done. As the pain decreases, sports activities can be increased. After six months, all kinds of sports can be done. You can return to sexual life when the pain subsides (after 1-2 weeks).
Does the hernia recur?
It may recur. Activities that increase intra-abdominal pressure, such as heavy lifting, constant coughing, and straining, especially after surgery, cause the hernia to recur. Sometimes the hernia may recur even because the tissues are weak.
Which method reduces recurrence?
Since recurrence is rare in children, nothing additional is done during the surgery. In adults, especially those over the age of 40, surgery with a patch reduces hernia recurrence. Whether open or closed surgery is effective on hernia recurrence It has no effect from udan. Using an abdominal corset after surgery reduces hernia recurrence, especially in those with umbilical hernia and incisional hernia.
Does hernia surgery cause infertility?
Such a risk for women. There is no. Since the seminal duct in men is in the surgery area, patients become worried if it is injured or tied. Since these canals are bilateral on the right and left, damage to one side does not cause infertility. If there is bilateral damage, infertility may develop.
How is umbilical hernia treated in pregnant women?
Pre-existing umbilical hernia sometimes becomes more obvious during pregnancy. If the person has no complaints about hernia, it is waited until birth. If the birth is by cesarean section, hernia surgery is performed at the same time or the surgery is planned for a time after birth. However, if the hernia is strangulated, emergency surgery is performed despite the pregnancy.
Even if pregnant women have previously had an inguinal hernia, it does not cause many complaints during pregnancy. Therefore, it would be appropriate to postpone inguinal hernia surgeries until after birth.
Does the patch used for hernia prevent or harm pregnancy?
Repair of umbilical or inguinal hernia surgery with a patch There is no obstacle for women to become pregnant after it is applied, and the patch does not harm pregnancy.
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