What is a hernia?

What is a hernia?

A hernia occurs when an internal organ or other body part protrudes through the wall of muscle or tissue that normally contains it. Most hernias occur within the abdominal cavity, between the chest and the hips.

What is a ventral hernia?

A ventral hernia is a hernia that occurs at any location along the midline (vertical center) of the abdomen wall. There are three types of ventral hernia:

What are the different types of hernias?

There are three types of ventral hernia: Epigastric (stomach area) hernia: Occurs anywhere from just below the breastbone to the navel (belly button). This type of hernia is seen in both men and women. Umbilical (belly button) hernia: Occurs in the area of the belly button. Incisional hernia. Develops at the site of a previous surgery.

What is a hernia in a horse?

A hernia is any rent or tear in the body wall that allows internal organs to push through into undesirable places. Any age or breed of horse can experience a hernia, and a hernia can occur in just about any location within the body wall.

Can a hernia go away on its own?

Hernias may cause some form of discomfort and don’t go away on their own, says Gina Adrales, M.D., M.P.H., director of the Division of Minimally Invasive Surgery at Johns Hopkins Medicine. The good news? Nearly all hernias can be surgically repaired.

Is an inguinal hernia serious?

Studies of men with inguinal hernias indicate the risk of having an emergency, like part of the bowel getting stuck or strangled in the muscle gap, is quite low. But because hernias tend to grow larger or cause symptoms over time, most men will require surgery within 10 years of hernia diagnosis.

What is the most common type of hernia in men?

In an inguinal hernia, fatty tissue or a part of the intestine pokes into the groin at the top of the inner thigh. This is the most common type of hernia, and affects men more often than women. Femoral hernia: Fatty tissue or part of the intestine protrudes into the groin at the top of the inner thigh.

Who makes the diagnosis of an abdominal wall hernia?

While primary care providers make the diagnosis of an abdominal wall hernia, it is the general surgeon who performs the operation and repairs the hernia. When a hernia becomes incarcerated, often the patient goes to the emergency department and the doctor there makes the diagnosis and sometimes can push the hernia back into place (reduced).

How is a hernia repaired?

Surgery to repair a hernia may use a laparoscope or an open procedure called a herniorrhaphy, where the surgeon directly repairs the hernia through an incision in the abdominal wall. The type of operation depends upon the clinical situation and the urgency of surgery.

Can a femoral hernia be corrected?

A femoral hernia can be a cause for concern due to the femoral artery and vein being nearby. It’s possible the hernia could affect these blood vessels and block blood flow to and from the leg. Because of this, doctors almost always try to correct a femoral hernia with surgery.