What is a hernia?

A hernia is a defect in the abdominal wall allowing contents from inside the abdomen to protrude through.

Are their different types of hernias?

Yes there area number of different types of hernias of the abdominal wall. The commonest types are inguinal, umbilical, paraumbilical, femoral and incisional. There are other rarer types such a spigelian and lumbar. In addition there are hernias at other sites. The most common being a hiatus hernia in which the stomach slips up through the diaphragm into the chest. This can be associated with a number of problems the commonest of which is gastro-oesophageal reflux which we experience as heartburn.

Is a hernia dangerous?

The danger of a hernia lies in the fact that it is possible for the abdominal contents entering the hernia to become stuck. Should this occur the hernia becomes increasingly painful and cannot be pushed back.

If the hernia contains bowel then it will become blocked (intestinal obstruction}. This produces colicky abdominal pain in addition to the constant pain experienced within the hernia, abdominal distension, vomiting and a variable degree of constipation. Patients may hear a lot of gurgling coming from their abdomen as the bowel contracts vigorously in an attempt to overcome the blockage. With time, the blood supply to the bowel may be cut off leading to it rupturing and the development of peritonitis. This is a serious complication requiring emergency surgery. It is to avoid the possibility of this serious complication occurring, that read more