Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Hernia Repair Options

Out of the copious amounts of strange and bizarre growths our body produces (warts, pimples, cyst), a hernia may be the most embarrassing and painful.  A hernia is a flesh-colored bump that protrudes out of any area of the body, most commonly the abdomen.  The growth is composed of tissues and organs that have broken through the muscle wall and can be caused by even the most simple of activities.  People may be more susceptible to hernia if it occurs in the family, old age, pregnancy, excessive weight-lifting, recovery after surgery, or obesity.  All of these issues weakens or increases the pressure on the abdomen, where surrounding organs or tissues are prone to rupture through.  A hernia contains three parts: the orifice, sac, and fatty tissue contents that accompany organs.  Some of the symptoms include discolored swelling and tenderness, nausea, vomiting, and fever.  Although it is common for the growth to cause pain, it is also possible for some to not even feel anything at all.
The abdomen area is the most common place for a hernia, yet other body parts are vulnerable to a protrusion too, such as the brain, anus, back, and intestines.  Usually, a hernia is just a small bump and is more of an inconvenience, but will be life-threatening if it is a larger size and involves vital organs.  There are many hernia repair options out there to treat this growth, most popular being hernia surgery for complete removal.  

For a mild treatment, you doctor may perform one of the following:
Tension Repair: Your doctor will replace the torn tissue and sew back the abdominal wall
Tension-Free Repair: Your doctor replaces the damaged tissue but incorporates a synthetic mesh tissue that to strengthen the abdominal wall again.
Laparoscopic Repair: This treatment is focused on hernias that are located along the ingenial canal.  This surgery requires a tiny incision using a specifically-designed camera for the operation.   

A more complicated and abrasive procedure would be an open surgery, where a larger hole is created and you doctor will manually push back the hernia.  Both open and laparoscopic hernia treatments have their own advantages and disadvantages.  The open hernia surgery only requires a local anesthetic but will need a longer recovery time, whereas the laparoscopic repair surgery will experience less pain and recovery time, but will need s general anesthetic.  There is a very high success rate of hernia surgery and will immediately rid patients of any discomfort or health risks that come with this condition, though it is the patients responsibility to take care of themselves to prevent another growth from happening.  By avoiding heavy lifting, smoking, and being sure to drink plenty of fluids, patients can keep hernias down and their health intact. 

For more go to  http://socalhernia.com/doctors.html

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Epigastric Hernia Surgery Information

 
When an epigastric hernia occurs, it is because of a weakness in the abdominal muscle. This weak spot will allow for the tissues of the abdomen to push itself through the muscle. Most often times an epigastric hernia is present at birth and hernia repair surgery is often required at a later time. In some cases, the hernia may heal as the abdominal muscles begin to further develop and strengthen. Similar to the umbilical hernia, epigastric hernias are located between the chest and belly button. 

Most often times, epigastric hernias are small and can only be found when the lining of the abdomen pushes its way through that abdominal wall. In more severe cases this is not always the case. Sometimes, portions of a vital organ will actually slip through the weak spot in the wall creating a more serious problem for the patient. 

When epigastric hernias are present in newborns it may be hard to even know that they have one. An epigastric hernia will not be very noticeable unless the child is pushing for a bowel movement or crying. The hernia will show also if the child is engaging in any sort of activity that requires abdominal pressure. Being able to visibly see the hernia makes it easy for doctors to diagnosis the hernia and most times to not need to order follow up testing. 

 

Unfortunately, an epigastric hernia rarely corrects itself and requires hernia surgery for a full recovery. Unless the hernia is very severe, such as the case http://socalhernia.com if a vital organ has slipped through the abdominal muscle, surgery is often held off on until the child is of an older age. Typically, young babies do not do well in surgery and that is why it is beneficial to wait. Once the patient reaches an older age and is ready to undergo epigastric hernia surgery, it is crucial that doctors and parents make them feel as comfortable and worry free as possible. 

General anesthesia is generally used on patients undergoing epigastric hernia repair and can be performed on an outpatient basis depending on how major the hernia is. Typically the laparoscopic technique is used for this type of hernia. A small camera is inserted into an incision that is made near the hernia and an additional incision is made for the insertion of medical instruments. The herniated tissue is then isolated for the doctor to work with and manipulate into its original orientation. Small hernias will usually stay in their repositioned location, but for larger hernias a piece of hernia mesh will be placed over the repair to secure the weakened area.