Hernia

What causes a hernia?

A hernia develops when an internal organ or tissue protrudes through the nearby muscles. This problem occurs when the muscle develops a tear or weakness, often due to age-related degeneration and pressure caused by heavy lifting, coughing, and straining during bowel movements.

The most common hernias include:

• Inguinal hernia, in the inner groin
• Femoral hernia, in the outer groin area
• Incisional or ventral hernia, in the abdominal wall along a previous incision
• Umbilical hernia, in the abdomen near your navel

You can also develop a hiatal hernia, which occurs inside your abdomen when the stomach pushes through the diaphragm muscle into the chest.  These types of diaphragm hernias are not visible on the abdomen and so require testing to diagnose.

What symptoms develop due to a hernia?

At first, you may notice a lump in the area where the hernia pushes through the muscles and a burning or aching sensation. As the hernia worsens, you’ll begin to feel pain when you’re active or any time pressure is placed on the hernia. A hiatal hernia causes symptoms such as heartburn, indigestion, and pain in your upper chest.

How is a hernia treated?

Hernias don’t heal on their own, and they don’t respond to medication. Although a truss can be used for some inguinal hernias, the only way to resolve the hernia is surgery. During hernia repair, the protruding part is put back into place. Depending on the severity of the hernia, your surgeon may place a hernia mesh over the area to add extra support, then the muscle is stitched back together.

Will I undergo minimally invasive hernia surgery?

The doctors at Desert West Surgery repair hernias using minimally invasive surgery and open surgery. During open surgery, one long incision is made over the hernia. By comparison, a minimally invasive procedure is performed using long, thin tools inserted through several tiny incisions around the hernia.

A key piece of equipment, the laparoscope, contains lighting and a video camera. It sends magnified images from inside your body to a monitor, which your surgeon views while manually controlling the other surgical instruments from outside your body.

Whenever possible, the doctors at Desert West Surgery use minimally invasive techniques because the smaller incisions cause less postoperative pain, allow for quicker recovery, and produce minimal scarring.

If you qualify for minimally invasive hernia repair, you may also be a good candidate for robotic surgery using the da Vinci® Surgical System. Your surgeon controls the robotic arms, while the advanced technology allows for more precise surgery.

When you need a hernia repair, call Desert West Surgery or book an appointment online.