Getting Ready For Hernia Surgery

If you have recently discovered that you need to have hernia surgery, it is time to learn about how to prepare for the upcoming procedure. Before the day of surgery, your surgeon will perform a comprehensive medical exam to evaluate your health and review your medical history. In some situations, patients are required to undergo additional testing and x-rays depending on the severity of the hernia. After all of the testing is complete, your doctor will sit with you and explain the different risks and benefits that are associated with the procedure based on your exam. Make sure that you are armed with questions for your doctor and do not be hesitate to ask questions if you do not understand. Understanding the procedure you’re about to undergo is important so that you can relax your body as much as possible.

Make sure that you explain to your doctor fully about all of the prescription and over the counter medications you take, as well as the daily supplements you take if any. This is crucial because some medications will interfere with the way the blood clots. Your surgeon will give you a list of specific instructions to help you prepare for hernia repair. This list will include guidelines about your diet and lifestyle. Following all of your doctors’ instructions is extremely important to ensure a smooth surgery and recovery. In most cases, the following guidelines are given to patients before they undergo hernia surgery.

• Refrain from eating or drinking anything after midnight on the night before the surgery. The only thing that can be ingested is any medications with a small sip of water that is permitted by the doctor.
• The colon and intestines should be completely emptied and cleansed. In some cases, patients are required to only drink clear liquids for the days prior to surgery.
• If you are a smoker, it is important that you stop smoking at least 6-8 weeks before surgery. People that smoke are shown to have a higher likely hood of breathing problems during surgery and have a delay in wound healing.
• Patients must also plan for their aftercare and recovery. You will be unable to drive home yourself after surgery, so you should arrange to have someone to pick you up. You will also need time to rest and should see if a family member or friend can stay with you to help with daily activities.

Although this is a short guide on how to prepare for your hernia repair surgery, it does not substitute the expertise of a doctor. If you are showing symptoms of a hernia, get the advice of a doctor. Not all types of hernias need to be surgically repaired. If you catch it early enough, there may be other less invasive options to healing your hernia.

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Hiatal Hernia Causes & Treatment

   
A hiatal hernia occurs when a portion of the stomach slips into the chest cavity. One of the most common factors that lead to a hiatal hernia is an abnormally large hiatus. This refers to the opening through which the esophagus  passes from the chest to the abdomen. Another factor may be because of loose attachment between the esophagus and diaphragm. This causes the esophagus and stomach to slip up into the chest. A simple change in lifestyle may be able to ease symptoms, but hernia surgery Los Angeles doctors say may be required.

Hiatal hernias are diagnosed similarly to the way heartburn is. Your doctor may want to take an x-ray of your chest to help determine the best hernia repair Los Angeles patients say. If the x-ray is unclear in showing the extensiveness of the hiatal hernia, they may choose to take a blood sample to check the red blood cell count, or perform an endoscopy. An endoscopy can give the doctor a direct view of the hernia with a small video camera.

Hiatal hernia symptoms are not always painful. Some simple lifestyle changes may be able to subside what little symptoms are there. For example, trying to maintain a healthy diet as well as eliminating unhealthy factors such as smoking and alcohol consumption, will relieve pressure in the abdomen and heartburn. However, if your hiatal hernia is painful and lifestyle change has no effect, then surgery may be necessary.  

A very dangerous type of hiatal hernia is a paraesophageal hernia. This type of hernia is more dangerous because of its high risk for becoming strangulated. A paraesophageal hernia is where a part of the stomach protrudes and lays alongside the esophagus when there is no movement of the gastroesophageal junction. The gastroesophageal junction is where the stomach and esophagus connect. The hiatus is repositioned and reinforced during surgery. Most commonly, the laparoscopic method is used to perform this surgery. A small camera is inserted into an incision so the doctor can see what is going on, while medical instruments are inserted into another incision to operate on the hernia.

Patients typically will stay in the hospital for one to two nights after undergoing paraesophageal hernia surgery. About two weeks after surgery patients are able to return to regular daily activities. It is crucial that all patients seek their doctor’s advice before returning to any intense or rigorous work. Everybody is different when it comes to how quick or slow they recover. Your surgeon will give you a specialized recovery plan to ensure the smoothest recovery.

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