A hernia is a sac formed out of lining of an organ that comes through the whole or weak area in the wall of a muscle, tissue, or membrane that normally holds an organ in place. Hernias are more common in in certain parts of the body such as the abdomen, groin and upper thigh area, and belly button area. They also can occur in any place where you have had an incision from surgery.
Hernia Types
There are different types of hernias based on their location. The most common types are listed above.
- Inguinal Hernia: Appears as a bulge in the groin or scrotum, occurring more commonly in men than women.
- Femoral Hernia: A femoral hernia appears as a bulge in the upper thigh, is a loop of intestine, or another part of the abdominal contents, that has been forced out of the abdomen through a channel called the "femoral canal"(a tube-shaped passage at the top of the front of the thigh). This type of hernia tends to occur in older people and is more common in women than in men.
- Hiatus Hernia: A hiatus hernia is when part of the stomach slides through the diaphragm, the muscular sheet that separates the lungs and chest from the abdomen.
- Incisional Hernia: Incisional hernia may be caused by the scar if you have had abdominal surgery.
- Umbilical Hernia: Umbilical hernia is a small bulge around the umbilicus (belly button). An umbilical hernia in an infant is caused by the incomplete closure of the muscles around the umbilicus.
Hernia will not get better by itself and may need to be treated surgically as they have a high risk of becoming strangulated A hernia repair is usually performed as an outpatient surgery with no overnight stay in the hospital. The operation may be performed as an “open” or “keyhole” (laparoscopic) surgery.In open hernia repair, a large incision is made on the groin (abdomen) and the bulge is pushed back into place.
