Hernia Surgery Specialist

What is a hernia?

A hernia is a condition where tissue that’s normally contained within one part of your body protrudes through a hole or tear in an adjoining structure.

Hernias can occur in many places around the body, and there are several types that affect the gastrointestinal system. Some of the most common ones are:

Hiatal hernia

A hiatal hernia involves the top of the stomach protruding through a hole in the diaphragm into the chest. In some cases, twisting occurs, which can cause extreme pain and may result in a blockage, which may require emergency surgery. Hiatal hernias are quite common, especially among older people and those who are overweight. They sometimes cause few symptoms, or just mild heartburn, and are often manageable with lifestyle changes.

Ventral (abdominal) hernia

A ventral hernia occurs when tissues such as the intestines push through a weak spot in the front of your abdomen. Incisional hernias that occur after surgery are one example of a ventral hernia.

Inguinal hernia

The most commonly seen hernia is the inguinal hernia, where a piece of the intestine protrudes through a weak area in an opening called the inguinal canal that’s in the layers of muscle in your groin. 

Hernias aren’t always a serious problem, but sometimes they can cause discomfort or pain. If a hernia leads to bowel obstruction or cuts off the blood supply to your intestine, it requires immediate surgery.

What are the symptoms of a hernia?

Inguinal, incisional, and ventral hernias frequently cause a lump to appear under the skin in the affected area, and they may cause discomfort or pain. Typically, the lump becomes more prominent when you’re standing and reduces when you lie down. 

You can’t see a hiatal hernia, but they often cause symptoms you would think of as indigestion, such as heartburn if they cause any symptoms at all.

The danger with a hernia is that it could strangulate, which means the blood supply is cut off to the intestine. This can cause tissue death and lead to a serious infection that could prove life-threatening without emergency surgery.

What does hernia surgery involve?

Where possible, your surgeon at Lakeland Surgical Clinic, PLLC, carries out minimally invasive laparoscopic hernia repair. This involves making several small incisions near the hernia, through which they can pass a laparoscope, which is a flexible tube that has a camera and a light on one end. The laparoscope sends images of the hernia to a monitor from inside your body without you having to undergo open surgery.

Using the footage from the laparoscope and special surgical instruments, your surgeon can repair the damaged tissue. In some cases, they need to fix a piece of plastic mesh in place to make the repair strong enough and prevent another hernia.

If you suspect that you have a hernia that requires surgical repair, call Lakeland Surgical Clinic, PLLC, to schedule your consultation, or book an appointment online today.