By A hernia occurs when an organ pushes out through an opening in the muscle that keeps it in place, for example, the intestines breaking out of a weakened area in the abdominal wall. Most hernias occur in the abdomen, but sometimes they also occur in the upper thigh and groin areas. Most hernias aren’t life-threatening at the infancy stage, but they do not go away naturally, they most times require surgery to prevent further dangerous escalation. “Every patient is different and so is the hernia different. What is right for one patient may not be best for another. For this reason, an individualized approach is key. Research has shown that surgeon’s experience with a particular technique is the most important factor, whether it is laparoscopic or open.” Says Dr. Samrat Jankar, hernia specialist in Pune, practicing at Symbiosis University Hospital & research Center.
SYMPTOMS OF HERNIA:
The most obvious symptom of a hernia is a lump in the area that is affected. For example, in the case of an inguinal hernia, you may notice a lump on either side of your pubic bone which is where your groin and thigh meet.
You may also discover that the lump disappears whenever you’re lying down. You’re most likely to feel your hernia when you’re standing up, bending down, or coughing. Pain or discomfort in the area around the lump may also be present.
Other types of hernia, such as hiatal hernia do have more specific symptoms. These can include things like heartburn, trouble swallowing, and intense chest pain.
In most cases, hernias don’t have symptoms. You may not know you have a hernia unless it shows up during a physical evaluation or a medical exam for an unrelated problem.
HERNIA CAUSES:
Hernias often occur when your muscles are extensively strained and weak. A hernia can develop very quickly or over a longer period, depending on its cause.
Some common causes of muscle weakness or strain that can lead to a hernia include:
- Aging: Aging is one of the key causes of hernia, because as an individual grows older the bones become weaker, which can lead to a rupture by an organ, therefore resulting in hernia.
- Damage from an injury or surgery.
- Chronic coughing or chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD): COPD is a type of lung disease that affects the individual’s ability to breathe well.
- Strenuous exercise or lifting heavyweights.
- Pregnancy, especially having multiple pregnancies.
- being overweight or obese
- Fluid in the abdomen, or ascites
- Smoking, as this often leads to the weakening of connective tissue.
- A personal or family history of hernia.
- Being born prematurely or with low birth weight.
HERNIA TREATMENTS:
- OPEN TREATMENT
For open hernia repair surgery, a single long incision is made in the groin area. If the hernia is bulging out of the abdominal wall, the bulge is pushed back into place. If the hernia is going down the inguinal canal, the hernia sac is either pushed back or tied off and removed.
- LAPAROSCOPIC TREATMENT
According to Dr. Samrat Jankar, an experienced laparoscopic surgeon in Pune, repair of a recurrent hernia often is easier using laparoscopic techniques than using open surgery. Many of my patients prefer laparoscopic hernia repair because it causes less pain and they are able to return home the same day, few hours after surgery.”
Laparoscopic hernia surgery is highly advisable for inguinal hernia. In this process, General anesthesia is administered, then a small cut (incision) is made in your abdominal area. The belly is inflated with harmless gas so that the surgeon can see the organs in the belly more clearly. A thin, lighted scope called a laparoscope is inserted through the incision. The tools needed to treat the hernia are then inserted through other small incisions in the lower belly.
The hernia sac is then removed from the defect in the abdominal wall, and a prosthetic mesh is then placed to cover the hernia defect. While doing this, surgeons must be very careful to avoid injuring the nerves that are near the hernia as this can cause chronic pain if injured and can also be fatal in some cases, blood vessels that can bleed, or the vas deferens (which carries sperm from the testicle and can reduce fertility if injured). The small incisions are closed with stitches that dissolve on their own over a period of time. best for you.
There are many things to think about when deciding if you should have inguinal hernia laparoscopic surgery. For example, is your hernia is incarcerated or strangulated? And also do you have other conditions that need to be addressed before hernia repair surgery is needed? You should discuss all hernia repair options with your surgeon to determine which approach is best for you.
How do I prepare for a laparoscopy?
In order to prepare for a laparoscopy, certain guidelines should be taken into consideration, some of which includes:
- Do not eat, drink anything including water, or smoke after midnight the day before your surgery.
- Wear low-heeled shoes on the day of surgery. You are likely to be drowsy from the anesthesia and unsteady on your feet.
- Do not wear jewelry.
- Wear loose-fitting clothing. You will have some abdominal tenderness and cramping after surgery.
- Remove any nail polish before surgery.
IS LAPAROSCOPIC SURGERY SAFE?
Laparoscopy is known to be a very safe procedure. One of its numerous benefits of this procedure is that it allows your healthcare professional to make an accurate diagnosis of your condition as he can see the interior of the organs very closely.
LAPAROSCOPIC SURGERY PRICING:
One of the downsides of laparoscopic surgery is that it’s not a very cheap procedure, as it ranges between $1100-$3500 depending on the hospital and also what country it is in, so it’s not readily available to poor individuals.
