


The diaphragm’s weakest point is a small opening that allows the passage of the oesophagus. The diaphragm is a sheet of muscle slung beneath the lungs that is essential to breathing. However, the hernia returns in around one out of 10 cases, requiring subsequent surgery. Other factors that may have been contributing to the hernia, such as obesity and flabby muscle tone, also need to be addressed. This eliminates the need for large abdominal incisions. A slender instrument known as a laparoscope is inserted and the hernia repaired from the inside. Inguinal hernias can be repaired using laparoscopic surgery. The various procedures used depend on the location of the hernia, but may include opening the abdomen and using stitches and nylon meshes to close and reinforce the weakened section of muscle. Untreated, a strangulated hernia can lead to gangrene of the trapped bowel.īoth reducible and non-reducible hernias need to be surgically repaired.

Prompt medical attention and surgery is vital. Symptoms of a strangulated hernia include nausea, vomiting and severe pain. The femoral hernia is the most susceptible to this complication. This means that the intestinal loop is held tight by the muscular ring, which can lead to further swelling of the loop and eventual strangulation of the entrapped bowel.
IS A HERNIA PAINFUL MANUAL
If the hernia resists manual pressure and can’t be popped back through the abdominal wall, it is known as a non-reducible hernia. Sometimes, the intestines can push through the closed incision, causing a hernia. Incisional – after abdominal surgery, the site of repair will always be structurally weaker.Overweight women, or those who have had several pregnancies, are also at increased risk. This type of hernia is more common in newborns. Umbilical – a portion of the gut pushes through a muscular weakness near the navel, or belly button.Femoral hernias are more common in women. This herniated section of bowel is at risk of strangulation, which is a serious complication requiring urgent medical attention. Similar to the events that cause an inguinal hernia, intestines force their way through the weak muscle ring at the femoral canal until they protrude. Femoral – occurring high on the thigh, where the leg joins the body.Inguinal hernias affect more men than women and are particularly common in middle age. A loop of intestine pushes against the small ring of muscle in the groin, eventually splitting the muscle fibres apart. This is the most common form, accounting for more than nine out of 10 hernias. Certain areas are structurally weaker than others and therefore more likely to develop hernias. The abdominal wall isn’t a solid sheet of muscle it is made up of different layers. The lump enlarges upon coughing, straining or standing up.The lump disappears when the person is lying down.Pain or aching, particularly on exertion (such as lifting or carrying heavy objects).A heavy or uncomfortable feeling in the gut, particularly when bending over.

The symptoms of a hernia can vary depending on the location and severity, but may include: Approximately 40,000 Australians have their hernias surgically repaired every year, making this one of the most common operations. If the lump resists manual pressure, it is a non-reducible hernia, which can mean serious complications.īoth forms of hernia require surgical repair. If the lump can be gently pushed back through the abdominal wall, it is known as a reducible hernia. The most common site is the groin, but hernias can also form in other areas, such as the navel. The weakened abdominal wall can be present at birth or may develop later in life. This visible lump or bulge is one of the key characteristics of a hernia. If left untreated, the split in the muscle widens and greater amounts of tissue or organs are pushed through the opening, forming a sac. A hernia is the protrusion of organs, such as intestines, through a weakened section of the abdominal wall.
