Laparoscopic Hernia Surgery in India

What is Hernia?

A hernia occurs when an organ pushes through an opening in the muscle or tissue that holds it in place. For example, the intestines may break through a weakened area in the abdominal wall.

Many hernias occur in the abdomen between your chest and hips, but they can also appear in the upper thigh and groin areas.

Most hernias aren’t immediately life-threatening, but they don’t go away on their own. Sometimes they can require surgery to prevent dangerous complications.

Hernia causes

Hernias are caused by a combination of muscle weakness and strain. Depending on its cause, a hernia can develop quickly or over a long period of time.

Some common causes of muscle weakness or strain that can lead to a hernia include:

1. A congenital condition that occurs during development in the womb and is present from birth aging
2.  Damage from an injury or surgery
3. Chronic coughing or chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD)
4. Strenuous exercise or lifting heavy weights
5. Pregnancy, especially having multiple pregnancies
6. Constipation, which causes you to strain when having a bowel movement
7. Being overweight or obese
8. Fluid in the abdomen, or ascites

There are also certain things that can increase your risk of developing a hernia. They include:

1. A personal or family history of hernias
2. Being older
3. Pregnancy
4. Being overweight or obese
5. Chronic constipation
6. Chronic cough (likely due to the repetitive increase in abdominal pressure)
7. Cystic fibrosis
8. Smoking (leading to weakening of connective tissue)
9. Being born prematurely or with a low birth weight”

Hernia symptoms may include:
A noticeable protrusion or bulge which may appear on standing or straining and disappear on lying down at the site of hernia.
The bulge may be more while coughing and sneezing.
Feeling pain while lifting weight.
A dull aching sensation
A vague feeling of fullness
Nausea and constipation
Diagnosis:
Hernias may or may not be painful. In most cases, a hernia can be diagnosed through a physical examination of the abdomen.”

Why laparoscopic hernia surgery is preferred to open hernia surgery?
Laparoscopic surgery has the following advantages over open hernia repair:

It causes less pain and patients are able to return to work more quickly than they would after open repair surgery.
Repair of a recurrent hernia often is easier using laparoscopic techniques than using open surgery.
It is possible to check for and repair a second hernia on the opposite side at the time of the operation.
Because smaller incisions are used, laparoscopy gives excellent cosmetic results.
Advantages
-Minimal postoperative pain
-Quick return to work and normal activities
-Excellent cosmetic results

Hernia Types
There are several different types of hernias. Below, we’ll explore some of the most common ones.

Inguinal Hernia
Inguinal hernias are the most common type of hernia. These occur when the intestines push through a weak spot or tear in the lower abdominal wall, often in the inguinal canal. This type is also more common in men.

The inguinal canal is found in your groin. In men, it’s the area where the spermatic cord passes from the abdomen to the scrotum. This cord holds up the testicles. In women, the inguinal canal contains a ligament that helps hold the uterus in place.

These hernias are more common in men because the testicles descend through the inguinal canal shortly after birth. The canal is supposed to close almost completely behind them. Sometimes the canal doesn’t close properly, leaving a weakened area. Explore more about inguinal hernias.

Hiatal Hernia
A hiatal hernia occurs when part of your stomach protrudes up through the diaphragm into your chest cavity. The diaphragm is a sheet of muscle that helps you breathe by contracting and drawing air into the lungs. It separates the organs in your abdomen from those in your chest.

This type of hernia is most common in people over 50 years old. If a child has the condition, it’s typically caused by a congenital birth defect.

Hiatal hernias almost always cause gastroesophageal reflux, which is when the stomach contents leak backward into the esophagus, causing a burning sensation. Get more information on hiatal hernias.”

Umbilical Hernia
Umbilical hernias can occur in children and babies. This happens when their intestines bulge through their abdominal wall near their belly button. You may notice a bulge in or near your child’s belly button, especially when they’re crying.

An umbilical hernia is the only kind that often goes away on its own as the abdominal wall muscles get stronger, typically by the time the child is 1 or 2 years old. If the hernia hasn’t gone away by 5 years of age, surgery can be used to correct it.

Adults can also have umbilical hernias. This can occur from repeated strain on the abdomen due to things like obesity, pregnancy, or fluid in the abdomen (ascites). Learn additional details about umbilical hernias.”

Ventral Hernia
A ventral hernia happens when tissue bulges through an opening in the muscles of your abdomen. You may notice that the size of a ventral hernia reduces when you’re lying down.

Although a ventral hernia can be present from birth, it’s more commonly acquired at some point during your lifetime. Common factors in ventral hernia formation include things like obesity, strenuous activity, and pregnancy.

Ventral hernias can also happen at the site of a surgical incision. This is called an incisional hernia and can happen due to surgical scarring or weakness of the abdominal muscles at the surgical site. Continue reading to discover more about ventral hernias.