When a part or all of an abdominal organ protrudes through a weakness in the abdominal wall as a swelling, it is referred to as a hernia. Parts of a typical hernia include a neck, body and a sac together with its contents. Protruding structures could be the stomach, intestines and the bladder among others. There are a number of things on hernia Valley Stream NY patients may find beneficial if suffering from the condition.
These protrusions can be classified based on different factors. For instance, they can be reducible or irreducible. Reducible hernias are more prominent when the patient coughs and when they are standing. They, however, retract when one lies down or manual reduction is attempted. Irreducible hernias, on the other hand, show neither spontaneous nor manual reduction. These are more dangerous because they can easily get twisted and interfere with circulation.
Twisting may lead to a phenomenon known as strangulation. This means that the contents in the sac are receiving very little or no blood supply at all. This is bad for the patient because it is very painful and the affected tissues could die. It, therefore, needs to be detected in time and the tissues at risk salvaged. A patient is more predisposed to strangulation if their hernia is irreducible and has a limited neck.
When a hernia is described as obstructed, particularly one containing intestines, it means that bowel contents can no longer pass down the canal with ease. The affected patient will complain of frequent bouts of vomiting and difficulty in passing stool. The examiner will also note that the abdomen is distended and peristalsis may be visible from the skin surface. This needs to be addressed urgently otherwise it can lead to perforation and further widespread damage.
Hernias can also be classified based on their location in the body. Groin hernias can be inguinal or femoral. The inguinal type can further be described as being direct and indirect. This type is by far the commonest. The femoral type tends to occur more in women than men. Other types include diaphragmatic, umbilical and esophageal.
Predisposing factors to herniation include weight lifting, pregnancy, obesity, straining on defecation and urination, among other factors. Common among all these factors is the fact that they all result in an increase in abdominal pressure which makes the wall to easily break down. People whose diet is poor in high fiber are highly susceptible to constipation, so are those who are fluid deprived. In addition, obstruction of the urinary tract just below the bladder is likely to cause strained urination.
Some hernias happen in the absence of any of the aforementioned predispositions. These are probably due to an underlying disorder of connective tissues in that region. They commonly happen among children, who are diagnosed with umbilical hernias. Fortunately, these tend to disappear on their own with time.
Treatment of a hernia is technically referred to as herniorrhaphy. It involves opening up the sac and returning the contents back to the abdominal cavity. The defect is then repaired using a mesh to increase surface area and to provide a more concrete support. The mesh also reduces the risk of recurrence. This procedure can be done using either the open or laparoscopic approach under general anaesthesia. Although the laparoscopic approach has a higher learning curve, it has more long term advantages compared to open surgery.
These protrusions can be classified based on different factors. For instance, they can be reducible or irreducible. Reducible hernias are more prominent when the patient coughs and when they are standing. They, however, retract when one lies down or manual reduction is attempted. Irreducible hernias, on the other hand, show neither spontaneous nor manual reduction. These are more dangerous because they can easily get twisted and interfere with circulation.
Twisting may lead to a phenomenon known as strangulation. This means that the contents in the sac are receiving very little or no blood supply at all. This is bad for the patient because it is very painful and the affected tissues could die. It, therefore, needs to be detected in time and the tissues at risk salvaged. A patient is more predisposed to strangulation if their hernia is irreducible and has a limited neck.
When a hernia is described as obstructed, particularly one containing intestines, it means that bowel contents can no longer pass down the canal with ease. The affected patient will complain of frequent bouts of vomiting and difficulty in passing stool. The examiner will also note that the abdomen is distended and peristalsis may be visible from the skin surface. This needs to be addressed urgently otherwise it can lead to perforation and further widespread damage.
Hernias can also be classified based on their location in the body. Groin hernias can be inguinal or femoral. The inguinal type can further be described as being direct and indirect. This type is by far the commonest. The femoral type tends to occur more in women than men. Other types include diaphragmatic, umbilical and esophageal.
Predisposing factors to herniation include weight lifting, pregnancy, obesity, straining on defecation and urination, among other factors. Common among all these factors is the fact that they all result in an increase in abdominal pressure which makes the wall to easily break down. People whose diet is poor in high fiber are highly susceptible to constipation, so are those who are fluid deprived. In addition, obstruction of the urinary tract just below the bladder is likely to cause strained urination.
Some hernias happen in the absence of any of the aforementioned predispositions. These are probably due to an underlying disorder of connective tissues in that region. They commonly happen among children, who are diagnosed with umbilical hernias. Fortunately, these tend to disappear on their own with time.
Treatment of a hernia is technically referred to as herniorrhaphy. It involves opening up the sac and returning the contents back to the abdominal cavity. The defect is then repaired using a mesh to increase surface area and to provide a more concrete support. The mesh also reduces the risk of recurrence. This procedure can be done using either the open or laparoscopic approach under general anaesthesia. Although the laparoscopic approach has a higher learning curve, it has more long term advantages compared to open surgery.
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