Abdominal Hernias: The Best Possible Ways To Manage and Treat Them

Abdominal Hernias Management

Are you suffering from an abdominal hernia? Well, there are ways to manage and treat abdominal hernias today, thanks to the advancements in the medicinal field! Today, in this article, let’s see how the abdominal hernia can be managed and treated effectively. Without any further delay, let’s dive straight into the topic here

Managing Hernias Without Surgeries - Approach Considerations

Although surgery is considered the only option for treating hernias, it’s actually not the only treatment. There are hernia belts today to help manage the hernias effectively. As you might be aware, a hernia will occur when a tissue protrudes out through the weakened abdominal muscles. A hernia belt can help support these weakened abdominal muscles, especially in the case of an umbilical hernia. These Hernia Belts will have foam pads that will add rigidity and padding effect, thereby helping to provide direct compression on the hernias. These belts are available in various sizes, ranging from X-Small to 2X-Large. Thus, people of all ages can buy and use it to manage hernias without surgeries.

If you are wondering when you should use umbilical hernia belts, the answer is here: The use of these belts can be useful in people with large-necked hernias, during their pre-operative period. In addition, it can also be helpful in patients who are at a risk of surgery on a long-term basis.[1]

Managing or Treating Hernias with Reduction/Repair

Based on the type of hernia you carry and depending on whether incarceration is observed, hernia reduction or repair will be carried out.

In the hernia reduction process, the first step will be the patient sedation. Then, two fingers will be placed at the edge of your hernial ring and strong and steady pressure will be applied to the sides of hernia, that is, close to the opening. This will be maintained for several minutes while your hernia is guided back. If success can’t be achieved, a surgeon should be consulted. Repeated stronger attempts are contraindicated.[2]

This procedure will be carried out in the emergency unit. However, a surgeon must be consulted for the be reasons below:

• When the hernia can’t be reduced
• When there is a strangulated bowel
• When the patient has a toxic appearance
• When the hernias are incarcerated or strangulated
• When there is a co-morbid risk for sedation

Treating Hernias With Surgeries

The surgical options for hernias will be based on the type and location of the hernias:

Inguinal Hernia

Although pressure reduction in the case of an incarcerated hernia is usually safe, failures to reduce are not uncommon. Such situations warrant prompt action. We can say that the presence of inguinal hernias, in the lack of mitigating factors, indicate the need for repair. Repair procedure will help prevent the following complications:

• Incarceration
• Obstruction
• Strangulation

Umbilical Hernia

An umbilical hernia repair will be prescribed for adults for incarceration, whereas in the children, the approach will be applied in relation with the history and the significance in their adulthood. It’s to be noted that in most cases, umbilical hernias will close by itself in the children during their pre-school age. Because of this, repair procedures will not be indicated in children below five years. The repair will be prescribed for these children only when the hernia is large and proboscoid with thin and hyper pigmented skin. Also, it’s to be noted that incarceration of umbilical hernias is not common in this population.

Other Hernias

The painful preperitoneal fat in the para umbilical hernias might be found to have incarcerated. Due to the fact that these issues will not close by itself and a tendency for painful strangulation exists, elective outpatient repair is prescribed.[3]

When it comes to other types of hernias, the repair procedure is recommended because of the risk for incarceration. The hernia types where repair procedure is recommended are:

• Spigelian hernias
• Interparietal hernias
• Supravesical hernias
• Lumbar hernias
• Obturator hernias
• Sciatic hernias
• Perineal hernias

Elective vs. Acute Repair - A Comparison

A research study has shown that the people with the following types of hernias are more likely to undergo an acute repair:

• Femoral hernias
• Scrotal hernias
• Recurrent hernias

It has also been reported that acute hernia repair has higher morbidity rates and lower survival rates than elective hernia repair. But, the following conditions can delay an elective hernia repair:

• Contagious disease
• Diaper rash
• Open wounds in the nearby areas
• An upper respiratory tract illness
• Any intercurrent illness

References

1..https://www.facs.org/~/media/files/education/patient%20ed/adultumbilical.ashx

2..https://www.europeanherniasociety.eu/sites/www.europeanherniasociety.eu/files/medias/PDF/HerniaSurgeGuidelinesPART1TREATMENT.pdf

3..http://gsm.utmck.edu/surgery/documents/hernias.pdf