Types of Hernia Surgery
Hernia surgery isn’t necessary in every case, but for a large or high risk hernia, surgical repair might be necessary. If the risk of complications such as strangulation is high, then it is important for surgery to be produced before the hernia gets worse. It is always best to avoid emergency surgery if possible, and if the hernia was allowed to strangulate, it would need to be operated on urgently.
Hernia surgery can take two different forms, and it may be performed either as open or laparoscopic surgery. With a small hernia, the defect in the abdominal wall through which the hernia has passed can simply be stitched up so that the abdominal tissue can’t escape again. Larger hernias can be repaired with a mesh instead. The mesh is a thin sheet that can be used to patch up the hole. It is glued or stitched into place, where it will form a strong barrier to prevent hernias from reforming.
Surgery can be used to treat all kinds of hernia, but the need for surgery and the method used can vary a little between different types.
1. Inguinal hernia repair: inguinal hernia surgery usually requires a mesh to repair the hernia, as stitching the defect up is less successful for this type of hernia.
2. Femoral hernia repair: femoral hernias are most likely to require surgery, and will usually need to be operated on early. This is because the hernia has passed through a very small hole, which means there is a high risk that it will become strangulated.
3. Incisional hernia repair: incision hernias are the type that varies most in size, so surgical approaches can also vary a great deal. Larger incision hernias are usually repaired using a mesh, but smaller ones might simply require some stitches to repair the hole.
4. Umbilical hernia repair: umbilical hernias don’t usually require surgical repair. If hernia surgery is required, stitches can be used to seal up the hole through which a small hernia has passed, but umbilical or paraumbilical hernias above 2cm in length will usually need to be repaired with a mesh.
Hernia surgery can take two different forms, and it may be performed either as open or laparoscopic surgery. With a small hernia, the defect in the abdominal wall through which the hernia has passed can simply be stitched up so that the abdominal tissue can’t escape again. Larger hernias can be repaired with a mesh instead. The mesh is a thin sheet that can be used to patch up the hole. It is glued or stitched into place, where it will form a strong barrier to prevent hernias from reforming.
Surgery can be used to treat all kinds of hernia, but the need for surgery and the method used can vary a little between different types.
1. Inguinal hernia repair: inguinal hernia surgery usually requires a mesh to repair the hernia, as stitching the defect up is less successful for this type of hernia.
2. Femoral hernia repair: femoral hernias are most likely to require surgery, and will usually need to be operated on early. This is because the hernia has passed through a very small hole, which means there is a high risk that it will become strangulated.
3. Incisional hernia repair: incision hernias are the type that varies most in size, so surgical approaches can also vary a great deal. Larger incision hernias are usually repaired using a mesh, but smaller ones might simply require some stitches to repair the hole.
4. Umbilical hernia repair: umbilical hernias don’t usually require surgical repair. If hernia surgery is required, stitches can be used to seal up the hole through which a small hernia has passed, but umbilical or paraumbilical hernias above 2cm in length will usually need to be repaired with a mesh.