Hernia Symptoms, Operation Types and Hernia Repair Surgery

What are the Risks Involved in a Hernia Operation?

Not sure if you should get your hernia operated? Curious about the risks related to a hernia surgery? Well, you are at the right place. Let’s start our journey and understand everything in details about hernia symptoms and hernia surgery.

Symptoms of a Hernia

Some of the common symptoms of a hernia are

• Formation of a lump in the abdominal region/affected region
• Discomfort or pain of the affected region
• An aching or burning sensation at the region of the lump
• A feeling of pressure, heaviness, and weakness in the abdominal region
• Acid reflux
• Difficulty swallowing
• Chest pain

However, in certain cases a hernia may not show  any symptoms unless it is found out in a regular routine check-up.

How to Know if a Hernia Requires Surgery?

Some hernias often get better and go away on their own without any outside intervention or treatment. However, those cases are rare. A hernia condition usually requires medical treatment. Your doctor may recommend a hernia surgery if[1]

• Tissue gets trapped within the wall of the abdomen, a condition known as incarceration. If this condition is not corrected immediately, blood flow to that tissue would stop and that may lead to life threatening risks.
• A hernia gets strangulated. This condition is a call for emergency hernia repair surgery. A patient requires immediate medical assistance in this condition to avoid complications that could lead to death.
• A hernia is causing serious and intolerable pain or is growing bigger

On the contrary, the hernia conditions which may not require an immediate surgery are-

• A condition where the hernia is movable or can get pushed inside into the belly.
• A condition where the hernia vanishes on lying down
• A condition where the hernia is small and not many symptoms are witnessed.

Umbilical Navel Hernia Belt can also be used to treat hernia conditions. Quality belts designed for hernia with the latest technology can help reduce pain.

Types of a Hernia Operation

Now let us discuss the different types of surgeries available for hernia. Primarily there are two types of a hernia operation.[2]

Prior to the surgery, the patient is given a local/spinal anesthesia that makes the lower region of the body numb. Some open surgeries for hernia correction are also done under general anesthesia which is given via an IV.

In a scenario of open surgery, the hernia surgeon will make an incision in the skin. He will then push back the hernia gently into its place and tie it there. After that, he will seal the weakened muscle area with stitches. In the condition where the hernia is larger, the surgeon would probably add a mesh for further support. This will ensure that the hernia does not come back again in the future.  

In a scenario of laparoscopic surgery, the hernia surgeon will inflate the patient’s abdomen with a certain kind of harmless gas. This will make it easier for the surgeon to examine the patient’s organs properly. After a thorough examination, the surgeon would make some tiny incisions close to the hernia. Through these incisions, he would put in a fine tube-like component having a small camera (laparoscope) attached to its end. The images captured by the laparoscope are used by the surgeon as a guide in repairing the hernia by using a mesh.

In the case of a laparoscopic surgery, patients are usually given general anesthesia. Laparoscopic surgery usually results in faster recovery of the patients.

The type of hernia operation that would best suit a particular hernia condition is decided on the basis of the type, size, and location of the hernia. The patient’s health, lifestyle, and age are also taken into consideration. 

Risks Associated with a Hernia Surgery

A hernia surgery is usually safe. However, there may be certain risk factors. Some of the hernia surgery complications are-

• The wound may get infected if proper care is not taken
• Blood clots may occur as the patient would be still for a longer duration because of the effect of the anesthesia.
• A hernia surgery mostly involves pain. The area would remain sore as the patient heals. But in some conditions, the patients experience long-lasting and intense pain. Laparoscopic surgery for hernia repair is usually said to be less painful than the open surgery.
• A hernia surgery might result in nerve damage. In some case, the stitches of the patient may generate pressure on a certain nerve.  In other cases, a nerve may get caught up in a wrong position during the process of the hernia surgery. Patients need to contact their doctor in case of sharp and intense pain.
• There are chances for the hernia to return after successful operation also. However, use of mesh reduces the chance by half.

Approximate Price of Hernia Surgery 

The approximate hernia operation cost is not very high. An open surgery on a single side may cost a patient approximately $18,000 whereas an open surgery on two sides is likely to cost a patient approximately $30,000. A laparoscopic surgery on a single side may cost a patient approximately $40,000 whereas a laparoscopic surgery on two sides is likely to cost a patient approximately $60,000.[3]

Recovery Time After a Hernia Surgery

Hernia operation recovery time in case of open surgery is about three weeks. The patient can resume strenuous exercise after six weeks. The patient can continue driving after about two weeks. Sexual intercourse can be carried out after about three weeks.

In case of laparoscopic surgery for hernia, the recovery time is one to two weeks. The patient can resume doing strenuous exercise after four weeks.[4]

If you get diagnosed with hernia, do not panic. There are solutions for complete hernia repair. You can undergo a hernia surgery on the recommendation of your doctor. You can also use hernia belts for relief from pain. Umbilical Navel Hernia Belt designed with superior quality materials under the latest medical certifications can help you recover from hernia.

References

1. https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/need-surgery-hernia#2

2. https://www.healthline.com/health/hernia#diagnosis

3. https://doctor.ndtv.com/faq/what-is-the-approximate-cost-of-a-hernia-operation-6627

4. https://www.uwhealth.org/health/topic/surgicaldetail/laparoscopic-inguinal-hernia-repair/hw170282.html