Table Of Contents
- What is Ventral Hernia?
- What are the risk factors associated with a ventral hernia?
- What are the causes of Ventral Hernia?
- What are the symptoms of Ventral Hernia?
- How does the doctor diagnose Ventral Hernia?
- What are the treatment methods for Ventral Hernia?
What is Ventral Hernia?
Protrusion of tissues caused by a weakening in the muscles of your abdominal wall is called a ventral hernia. It can happen anywhere on your abdominal wall.
Since they form near the healed site of previous surgical wounds, they are referred to as incisional hernias. Here, the abdominal wall layers have gone weak or thin, which allows the contents of the abdominal cavity to push through.
In a strangulated ventral hernia, intestinal tissue becomes caught in an opening in your abdominal wall and becomes strangulated. This tissue cannot be pushed back into your abdomen as the blood supply has been cut off. A ventral hernia of this type needs immediate medical emergency and surgery.
Hernias can occur in different parts of your body and are termed after the site where they occur. For example, a femoral hernia occurs in your upper thigh area.
What are the risk factors associated with a ventral hernia?
Some people are born with a congenital problem — a birth defect — that leads them to have an unusually thin abdominal wall. They have a higher chance of getting a ventral hernia. Other reasons that might cause a ventral hernia include:
- pregnancy
- obesity
- history of previous hernias
- medical history abdominal surgeries
- any injury to your bowel area
- family history of hernias
- frequently lifting or moving heavy objects
What are the causes of Ventral Hernia?
The majority of them happen around a surgical scar. The scar tissue becomes weak or thins, causing an abdominal bulge. The bulge pushes itself against the abdomen wall.
What are the symptoms of Ventral Hernia?
Ventral hernias can manifest themselves in a variety of ways. It could be weeks before the symptoms show up.
Sometimes, you may not experience any symptoms. Alternatively, you may feel discomfort or severe pain in the area of your hernia, which may worsen when you stand or carry heavy objects. You will also notice swelling or growth in the area that is tender to the touch.
If you experience any of the signs given here, see a doctor straight away:
- Mild discomfort in the abdominal region
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Protruding skin or tissues in the abdominal area
How does the doctor diagnose Ventral Hernia?
Your doctor will conduct a physical examination. He could ask for imaging tests to check the inside of your body for ventral hernia signs.
- Abdominal ultrasound
- Abdominal CT scan
- Abdominal MRI scan
What are the treatment methods for Ventral Hernia?
If left untreated, a Ventral Hernia can lead to serious complications. You will need surgical treatment to fix this issue.
Untreated hernias can proceed to bigger ventral hernias, which are more difficult to repair. Swelling can cause the fluids of a hernia to become trapped that can cause a condition called incarceration. This can result in lower or complete blockage of blood supply to the tissues.
Surgical treatment options include:
- Mesh placement surgery: The surgeon puts tissue back into position and then sews in a mesh to hold it in place as a reinforcement patch. Mesh placement has proved to lower the chance of hernia recurrence. Hence it is regarded as safe and trustworthy.
- Laparoscopy – The surgeon uses guidance from a small camera inside your body to make several small incisions and repair your hernia using laparoscopic surgery. You and the surgeon can decide whether to use a mesh or not.
- An open surgical (non-laparoscopic) procedure involves a surgeon making an incision next to your hernia, pushing the tissues back into place, and then sewing the area up. You can decide with the surgeon whether to use a mesh or not.
The benefits of laparoscopic removal are:
- Small incision thus lowering the chance of infection
- Reduced stay in hospital as you can usually leave in a day or two
- Low Post-operative pain
- No large visible scars
- Speedy recovery period
Some concerns about open surgery are:
- Longer stay in hospital after surgery
- Greater pain
- Medium to a large scar
To Summarize
You may be able to “repair” your hernia yourself in the beginning stages. Some people can feel the bulge in their abdominal area as the organs retreat inside. This is referred to as hernia reduction. Though it’s temporary, it will work till your surgery.
You will be able to undergo the operation without any complications successfully. However, before resuming everyday activities, you should rest for a few weeks and avoid any heavy lifting or abdominal strain.
