How is an abdominal and/or inguinal wall hernia caused?
This pathology is caused by a structural weakness in the muscular wall of the abdomen and inguinal area, this produces a hole in the damaged area of the abdomen and this hole allows the introduction of part of the abdominal contents (intestinal loops). Sometimes, and depending on the area and size of the hernia, we can observe them with the naked eye or by touching them with the hand.
Wall and inguinal hernias are caused by various factors. They are usually due to genetic factors that cause the abdominal or inguinal wall of these people to be weaker than normal people and predispose them to have hernias and sometimes they are in multiple sites. There are also acquired hernias, which are caused by overexertion, smoking, prostate problems and health problems or weakness of the abdominal area due to aging.
Wall hernias have different names and are treated differently depending on where they are located in the body.
Inguinal hernia: it is due to a weakness of the abdominal wall at the groin level. They are usually more common among people who have a heavy job or who perform activities with a very intense physical effort. They can appear at any age and, although they are more common in men, other factors such as pregnancy, overweight or coughing and straining when urinating and continuous sneezing can increase the likelihood of their appearance and the only solution that exists is surgery.
Incisional or ventral hernia: They appear in the areas of the body where surgery was previously performed. The most frequent area when the operation was performed in the abdominal area. And its appearance is due to problems in the suture, because of great tension, obesity or poor diet or smoking and the only solution that exists is surgery.
Femoral hernia: is a bulge in the crease below the groin. In this condition, it is more common in women and also causes intense discomfort and pain. In addition, this type of hernia is susceptible to strangulation of the small intestine and the only solution is surgery.
Umbilical hernia: it occurs in the navel or in the area near it. This hernia has a high complication rate as it is also very susceptible to strangulation of a small bowel loop and the only solution that exists is surgical intervention.
What is the treatment for wall and inguinal hernias? What is the care if we have a hernia?
Open surgical repair: general surgeons close the hernia with sutures, mesh, or a combination of both, and the surgical wound in the skin is closed with sutures, staples or surgical glue.
Laparoscopic repair: it is less invasive than the previous one and is used only for recurrence of previous surgeries. One of its main purposes is to avoid scarring. In this type of intervention it is also less likely to present complications such as infections.
The only treatment option for wall and inguinal hernias is surgery, since they do not usually disappear, on the contrary, they increase in size and the possibility of complications and mortality increases. For surgical treatment there are two types of surgical interventions.
Dr. Javier Cisneros Lopez is a general surgeon specializing in anorectal pathology surgery in the city of Tijuana, Baja California Mexico with 26 years of experience and more than 7,000 procedures performed. If you have any symptoms or doubts about your health, schedule an appointment here to receive medical attention appropriate to your condition.
