What is hernia?
Although some people think of hernia as of benign problem, the fact is that because of it in operating rooms around the world it is performed large number of interventions. Abdominal hernia presents a passage of peritoneum and organs through innate or acquired weakened place on abdominal wall (navel, inguen). It is considered that every 10th person in the world will get hernia during life, and just in USA annually it is spent 840 million of dollars in operations of inguinal hernias, while 2,5 billion of dollars is spent in complications of this problem and health leave. In Serbia operation of hernias represent 25% of all operations that are done in hospitals of general type.
How hernias develop?
Hernia is mainly formed when there are increase of pressure in abdominal wall that pushes peritoneum through natural openings and thus expands it, especially during lifting heavy weight, tension while going to toilet, heavy coughing, sneezing. In elderly persons degeneration and weakening of muscles of abdominal wall are reason for hernia formation. Some risk factors for hernia are obesity, physical inactivity, smoking…
Around 75 % of all hernias occur in inguinal region and mainly in men, while in women are most often found umbilical and femoral hernias.
Large number of hernias are postoperative hernias that appear when wounds on the stomach do not heal properly.
What can I do to make hernia smaller or not to get it at all?
Prevention of hernias are in healthy life style. Less obesity and physical activity slow down degeneration and weakening of abdominal wall, healthy diet that enables regular stool, quitting of smoking that removes risk of persistent cough, regular prostate control that eliminate problems with difficult urinating.
Patient usually observes hernia during standing up and walking as smaller or bigger swelling on abdominal wall.
Patient can have symptoms like pain and discomfort on the hernia opening, although the majority have no symptoms at all. Once it is created, hernia becomes larger every day and there are no exercises for its healing.
Healing of hernias is only possible with surgery. Cutting edge surgical techniques enables that elderly patients can be operated as well, and is now novelty. It is advisable that hernia should be operated as soon as possible because smaller hernia, smaller surgical intervention. Wearing belt for hernia only postpones solving of the problem and can not make it go away.
Twenty years back in time with usage of popular “meshes” that replace lost and degenerated tissue where opening of hernia is placed, now results of healing of hernia are advanced. Now the rate of recurrent hernia is smaller, shorter stay in hospital, faster recovery and returning to normal daily activities.
How operation is performed and how long does it last?
Patient comes in the hospital in the morning when operation is performed in local anesthesia, and in morning patient can be dismissed from hospital. Operation of hernia lasts approximately for 50 minutes. Immediately after intervention patient can walk, takes liquid and food.
Patient leaves hospital soon after operation and comes back to normal activities in 5 to 7 days, and to sport activities in 3 to 4 weeks.
Operation of one of the most common inguinal hernia today is very simple and safe and is performed in local anesthesia therefor is suitable for all life stages.
Atlas General Hospital performs hernia operations, and our team of surgeons have great experience. If you have any questions or would like to consult with us, search for our specialists: Doc dr Bojan Kovačević, Mr sci med Dr Igor Piponski, dr Dragomir Mirković, dr Vladimir Cijan.
