What are hernias? Hernias are conditions caused by sustained and continuous physical exertion. However, although hernias mainly occur following more sustained and continuous activity, hernias can start at any age, including babies, and affect both men and women.

When an organ wholly or partially protrudes from its usual cavity through a natural or artificial opening it creates a bulge in that area, visible to the outside world, and causes the well-known medical condition known as HERNIA.

What are the symptoms of hernias?

The symptoms of hernias and their signs are clear:

  • Swellings appear in the abdomen or groin, depending on the type of hernia the patient suffers from, and they increase with the passage of time and with sustained physical effort.
  • Discomfort appears in that area.
  • The hernia is quite sensitive to touch and causes pain constantly, but especially while the patient is exerting himself or lifting weights. There are also cases when the hernia does not hurt.
  • Once the level of pain increases, nausea may occur, which can turn into vomiting.
  • Severe cramps are also present.
  • The volume of the abdomen and its circumference increases with abdominal hernia.

Why do hernias occur? What causes hernias?

  • Obesity – Gastric sleeve – What is it, advantages, how much weight loss, diet after gastric sleeve;
  • Malnutrition;
  • Tuberculosis;
  • Diabetes mellitus;
  • Cystic fibrosis;
  • Chronic constipation;
  • Chronic cough;
  • Prostate adenoma;
  • Ascites;
  • Large tumors;
  • Pregnancy;
  • And other causes influenced by congenital or metabolic factors.

How is a hernia correctly diagnosed?

Hernia is correctly diagnosed by clinical examination. The doctor physically examines the patient and, when there is doubt between a hernia and a tumor, imaging investigations are performed.

How is a hernia treated?

Hernia is treated ONLY surgically, classically or laparoscopically. Rarely does a hernia heal by itself spontaneously. The less advanced the hernia, the easier it is to correct, and the risk of complications is considerably reduced. Hernia surgery is very advanced. Hernias are successfully cured today.

How many types of hernias are there and how do they manifest themselves?

How many types of hernias are there and how do they manifest themselves?
Epigastric hernias, also called white line hernias, are located in the lower part of the rib cage, just above the navel. The protuberance usually appears in the abdominal wall and does not exceed the size of a golf ball.

Femoral hernia is the second most common type of hernia and affects women more than men.
The protrusions form just below the groin crease and are located somewhere in the middle of the thigh.

Umbilical hernias account for only 10% of all hernia cases and mainly affect children and overweight and obese women over 60.
The protrusions appear around the navel. Babies are usually affected when the umbilical cord does not close completely, but in adults’ umbilical hernia is caused by obesity, pregnancy or a medical condition called ascites, i.e. excess fluid in the abdomen.

Incisional hernias are rarer and occur in post-operative abdominal scars. This type of hernia, the incisional hernia, can occur several years after surgery.

Ventral hernia manifests itself as an opening in the muscles of the abdominal wall. Although it is a hole, it also produces a swelling that is usually visible in the center of the abdominal wall.

A giant hernia is actually a ventral hernia or incisional hernia caused by injury or trauma. An open abdomen that heals more slowly or incorrectly can cause a giant hernia.

Incarcerated hernia OR strangulated hernia is a major complication of hernia. When a portion of the intestine gets stuck in the hernia we are dealing with incarcerated hernia. A strangulated hernia is rarer, but it is particularly dangerous because it stops the blood supply to the intestine. Once deprived of blood, the bowel leads to gangrene, gangrene can cause the bowel to rupture which then leads to peritonitis, i.e. infection of the abdominal cavity. Untreated peritonitis causes the death of the patient.

Athlete’s hernia involves tearing of muscles, tendons or ligaments in the lower abdomen. Here we are not dealing with a weakening or opening of the abdominal wall, but with a rupture itself. The pain is located in the groin, just as in the case of inguinal hernia.

Groin hernia is the most common and is most common in older men. Of all hernia injuries, inguinal hernias account for 80% of cases. Protrusions form in the scrotum or in the inguinal fold.

Laparoscopic general surgery is a particularly important section of the VenArt clinic.
Surgeries are performed by doctors with vast experience, specialized in renowned clinics in Europe, USA and Israel.
Thanks to innovative medical techniques, many conditions are treated by minimally invasive (laparoscopic) methods. Thus, more than 60% of patients can be treated on an outpatient basis.

For all the details please visit the general surgery section of the clinic.

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