6 min read
A hernia happens when an internal organ pushes through a weak spot in the surrounding muscle or tissue. There are many types of hernia, such as inguinal hernia, hiatal hernia, umbilical hernia and femoral hernia. Most hernias don’t go away on their own, and they can sometimes lead to serious complications if untreated.
The peritoneum is the membrane that lines the abdominal cavity and encloses most of the internal organs in the abdomen to protect them. A hernia is a bulge that is resulted from an organ (e.g. stomach, bowel) or peritoneum protruding through a weakening spot of the abdominal wall.
There are many types of hernia, depending on where the hernia is (e.g. groin, abdominal, diaphragm). Listed below are some types of hernia:
Other types of hernia that occur inside the peritoneum without visible external bulge include:
Signs and symptoms of hernia depend on the types of hernia you have. The most common sign of an abdominal hernia (e.g. inguinal hernia and femoral hernia) is the development of a noticeable lump or bulge. You can experience signs and symptoms like:
If a hernia is left untreated, the hernia can become “strangulated”, which is a serious complication. You should seek medical attention right away if you experience the following signs and symptoms:
A hernia happens when an increase in pressure in the abdomen pushes an organ or tissue through the opening or weakness of muscle. There are many reasons for increased pressure or weakened muscles, in which different types of hernias have different causes and risk factors. For example, a hernia can be present at birth (e.g. umbilical hernia), while other hernias tend to develop later in life.
In fact, except for incisional hernia which is a complication of surgical procedure on the abdomen, there is no clear reason for the occurrence of hernias. But there are some common factors that possibly increase the risk of developing a hernia:
Most hernias do not go away on their own, except umbilical hernias in babies. Untreated hernia sometimes can grow and lead to serious complications like:
In general, a physical examination is good enough to diagnose a hernia based on the recognizable bulge located on the body surface. Your doctor may feel the size of the bulge and see whether it can be pushed back into the abdomen. For other hernias that do not have obvious signs and symptoms, additional tests might be performed to confirm the diagnosis of hernia:
Though surgery is the only treatment option for hernia, not everyone with a hernia is suitable and necessary to be operated on. Your doctor will determine whether hernia repair is necessary, depending on the type of hernia, risks of complications, your health condition, and severity of symptoms, etc. In general, types of hernia surgery include:
Sometimes, your doctor may just closely monitor your hernia before any intervention until complications develop. This is called watchful waiting.
It is sometimes hard to prevent a hernia from developing, but the risk of certain types of hernia can be reduced by avoiding an increase in abdominal pressure. Other than congenital hernias, the risk of hernia can be minimized through:
Yes. Hernia can be pushed back in or can disappear when you are lying down, and most patients experience this before they seek medical attention. If your bulge cannot be pushed back into the abdomen, or if there is difficulty or even pain when you reduce the hernia, you should seek medical attention immediately as it may indicate the development of complications.
Most hernias do not go away on their own, except umbilical hernias in babies. The only treatment option for hernia is surgery, Untreated hernia sometimes can grow and lead to serious complications.
Though not all cases of hernia will necessarily get worse, surgery is advisable for some types of hernia (e.g. inguinal hernia). Untreated, herniated tissue can become trapped in the abdominal wall (incarceration), leading to bowel obstruction and strangulation. It is fatal and requires emergency surgery.
For inguinal hernia, the repair with mesh can be done by an open or laparoscopic approach. The latter causes less pain and provides a much faster recovery time compared to open surgery. For patients who are not suitable for laparoscopy or general anesthesia, or with very large inguinal hernia, open surgery with mesh repair is advised.
This article was medically reviewed by Dr. Kam Ming Ho Philip 甘明豪醫生. Dr. Kam is a specialist in general surgery in Hong Kong who is currently practicing at the Edinburgh Orthopaedic Spine And Surgery Centre.
This article was independently written by Healthy Matters. It is informative only and not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be relied upon for specific medical advice.
Healthy Matters is Hong Kong’s leading health resource. Our mission is to help you make better health decisions and take control of your health.
Our team of experts is committed to producing reliable health content that is accurate, engaging and relevant, to cover your health & wellness journey from prevention to treatment.
Whether you are looking for trusted information on health conditions, wellbeing or looking for the right doctor or service in Hong Kong, we’re here to help!
Your health matters. Begin your health journey with Healthy Matters today!