What is Inguinal Hernia?
Normally abdominal contents like small and large intestines, urinary bladder and omentum etc are contained inside abdominal cavity surrounded by abdominal muscles. In case of weakness of abdominal wall muscles these abdominal contents may protrude out of abdomen and form a swelling. If this swelling appears in groin area it is known as Inguinal hernia or groin hernia
What causes an inguinal hernia?
Most inguinal hernias happen because an opening in the muscle wall does not close as it should before birth. That leaves a weak area in the belly muscle. Pressure on that area can cause tissue to push through and bulge out.
A hernia can occur soon after birth or much later in life. You are more likely to get a hernia if you are overweight or you do a lot of lifting, coughing, or straining. Hernias are more common in men. A woman may get a hernia while she is pregnant because of the pressure on her belly wall.
What are the symptoms?
The main symptom of an inguinal hernia is a bulge in the groin or scrotum. It often feels like a round lump. The bulge may form over a period of weeks or months. Or it may appear all of a sudden after you have been lifting heavy weights, coughing, bending, straining, or laughing. The hernia may be painful, but some hernias cause a bulge without pain. A hernia also may cause swelling and a feeling of heaviness, tugging, or burning in the area of the hernia. These symptoms may get better when you lie down. Sudden pain, nausea, and vomiting are signs that a part of your intestine may have become trapped in the hernia. Call your doctor if you have a hernia and have these symptoms.
How is it treated?
If you have a hernia, it will not heal on its own. Surgery is the only way to treat a hernia. Most people with hernias have surgery to repair them, even if they do not have symptoms. This is because many doctors believe surgery is less dangerous than strangulation, a serious problem that occurs when part of your intestine gets trapped inside the hernia.
What is the treatment of Inguinal Hernia & period of recovery?
Inguinal Hernia Surgery is the only treatment available & there are two types of Inguinal Hernia surgical procedures
Open Meshplasty
Laparoscopic Meshplasty
Recovery time is 3-4 days after laparoscopic surgery and about 2 weeks after open surgery.
What are the precautions after hernia surgery?
Avoiding lifting heavy weight, Recurrent cough & constipation should be avoided and should be treated promptly if they appear.