Inguinal Hernia surgery
Inguinal Hernia surgery is a type o surgery that is performed to fix an inguinal hernia that happens in your groin, in a passageway called the inguinal canal.
Some facts about Inguinal Hernia surgery:
- A bulge can be seen on one side of your pelvic bone caused by abdominal tissue pushing through an opening in your lower abdominal wall.
- The opening in your lower abdominal wall may be congenital which is present at birth, or due to age-related muscle degeneration.
- An inguinal hernia, also called a groin hernia is the most common type of groin hernia that occurs in the inguinal canal.
- Different types of hernias occurs in different body compartments and the inguinal hernia is the most common type of hernia which occurs when abdominal tissue, such as belly fat or a loop of intestines, bulges through an opening in your lower abdominal wall.
- Direct and indirect inguinal hernia are the two types of inguinal hernia.
- A direct inguinal hernia occurs in adults over time that penetrates directly through the wall of your inguinal canal. The cause can be a combination of weakening abdominal muscles and chronic pressure on the muscle wall.
- An indirect inguinal hernia usually occurs because of a birth defect that enters your inguinal canal through the top. The opening to their canal doesn't close all the way during development in the womb in some babies.
- Usually, a physical examination is enough to diagnose an inguinal hernia.
- The risk of Inguinal Hernia is highest for children as they are still growing and their hernias will enlarge at a faster rate.
- Children can also have indirect hernias, which are more likely to go into their scrotum
Preparation for Inguinal Hernia surgery:
- An imaging test will be done to see it from the inside if the hernia is not seen from the outside.
- An ultrasound or CT scan may be performed in rare case.
- Quit smoking a few weeks before the surgery, make sure all other health conditions are well-managed before surgery, inform your doctor about any other supplements, prescriptions, and over-the-counter medications you are taking and about any possibility of pregnancy, if it is a scheduled surgery.
- Any history of bleeding disorders or are taking any blood-thinning (anticoagulant) medicines, aspirin, or other medicines that affect blood clotting should be informed to your healthcare provider as you may have to stop taking these medicines before your surgery.
- Take your medicine with a small sip of water to avoid drinking too much liquid if you do have to take any medications
Procedure for Inguinal Hernia surgery:
- Surgery is recommended for most inguinal hernias, and for all in children and those AFAB as children and women are more at risk of dangerous complications.
- Surgery is the only way to fix an inguinal hernia in which the doctor will push the bulging tissue back inside and strengthen your abdominal wall with stitches and perhaps mesh.
- A small cut in your belly will be made and special tool, a procedure called laparoscopy will be used for doing Inguinal Hernia surgery
- A hidden femoral hernia behind an inguinal hernia can only be found through surgery.
- Emergency surgery is required for hidden femoral hernias in people AFAB as Femoral hernias have a higher risk of complications.
