Inguinal hernia should i have surgery

In a male fetus, the spermatic cord and both testicles-starting from an intra-abdominal location-normally descend through the inguinal canal into the scrotum, the sac that holds the testicles. Sometimes the entrance of the inguinal canal at the inguinal ring does not close as it should just after birth, leaving a weakness in the abdominal wall.

Fat or part of the small intestine slides through the weakness into the inguinal canal, causing a hernia. In females, an indirect inguinal hernia is caused by the female organs or the small intestine sliding into the groin through a weakness in the abdominal wall. Indirect hernias are the most common type of inguinal hernia. Premature infants are especially at risk for indirect inguinal hernias because there is less time for the inguinal canal to close. An incarcerated inguinal hernia is a hernia that becomes stuck in the groin or scrotum and cannot be massaged back into the abdomen.

An incarcerated hernia is caused by swelling and can lead to a strangulated hernia, in which the blood supply to the incarcerated small intestine is jeopardized. A strangulated hernia is a serious condition and requires immediate medical attention. Symptoms of a strangulated hernia include:.

Left untreated, nausea, vomiting, and severe infection can occur. If surgery is not performed right away, the condition can become life threatening, and the affected intestine may die.

Then that portion of the intestine must be removed. To diagnose inguinal hernia, the doctor takes a thorough medical history and conducts a physical examination.

The person may be asked to stand and cough so the doctor can feel the hernia as it moves into the groin or scrotum. The doctor checks to see if the hernia can be gently massaged back into its proper position in the abdomen.

In adults, inguinal hernias that enlarge, cause symptoms, or become incarcerated are treated surgically. In infants and children, inguinal hernias are always operated on to prevent incarceration from occurring. Surgery is usually done on an outpatient basis. Recovery time varies depending on the size of the hernia, the technique used, and the age and health of the patient. The two main types of surgery for hernias are as follows:. In open hernia repair, also called herniorrhaphy, a person is given local anesthesia in the abdomen or spine to numb the area, general anesthesia to sedate or help the person sleep, or a combination of the two.

Then the surgeon makes an incision in the groin, moves the hernia back into the abdomen, and reinforces the muscle wall with stitches. Usually the area of muscle weakness is reinforced with a synthetic mesh or screen to provide additional support-an operation called hernioplasty. Laparoscopic surgery is performed using general anesthesia.

The surgeon makes several small incisions in the lower abdomen and inserts a laparoscope-a thin tube with a tiny video camera attached to one end. The camera sends a magnified image from inside the body to a monitor, giving the surgeon a close-up view of the hernia and surrounding tissue. While viewing the monitor, the surgeon uses instruments to carefully repair the hernia using synthetic mesh.

People who undergo laparoscopic surgery generally experience a somewhat shorter recovery time. However, the doctor may determine laparoscopic surgery is not the best option if the hernia is very large or the person has had pelvic surgery.

Most adults experience discomfort after surgery and require pain medication. Vigorous activity and heavy lifting are restricted for several weeks. The operation usually takes about 30 to 45 minutes to complete and you'll usually be able to go home on the same day. Some people stay in hospital overnight if they have other medical problems or live on their own. Read more about recovering from an inguinal hernia repair. Open inguinal hernia repair is often carried out under local anaesthetic or a regional anaesthetic injected into the spine.

This means you'll be awake during the procedure, but the area being operated on will be numbed so you will not experience any pain. Sometimes a general anaesthetic is used. This means you'll be asleep during the procedure and will not feel any pain. Once the anaesthetic has taken effect, the surgeon makes a single cut incision over the hernia.

This incision is usually about 6 to 8cm long. The surgeon then places the lump of fatty tissue or loop of bowel back into your abdomen tummy. A mesh is placed in the abdominal wall, at the weak spot where the hernia came through, to strengthen it. When the repair is complete, your skin will be sealed with stitches. These usually dissolve on their own within a few days of the operation. If the hernia has become strangulated and part of the bowel is damaged, the affected segment may need to be removed and the 2 ends of healthy bowel rejoined.

General anaesthetic is used for keyhole inguinal hernia repair, so you'll be asleep during the operation. One day I noticed a tender bulge in my groin that became more and more painful on the job.

My doctor said I had an inguinal hernia. I decided to have surgery to repair it, because I just couldn't work anymore with the hernia. My inguinal hernia does not bother me much.

So I could live with it. But it makes a big bulge, and I don't like the way it looks. So I decided to have surgery to have it repaired and make the bulge go away. Over the last few years I had gotten overweight. So I went on a crash diet to lose the extra weight fast. Afterward I got a cold and coughed a lot. Later I noticed a small bulge in my groin area that hadn't been there before. My doctor said it was an inguinal hernia and showed me how to push it back into my belly.

Although I could have surgery to repair it, I decided to wait to see if it gets worse. I have a hernia and I am pregnant. It bothers me some, but I have decided to wait until after my baby is born to have the hernia repaired. I just think there is too great a chance of harm to my baby from the anesthesia and surgery to have the hernia repaired before delivery.

Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts. Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements. My hernia is keeping me from doing daily activities or from returning to work.

I will be travelling to an area where health care may not be available, so I want to take care of this now. I have no plans to travel to places where health care may not be available. Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision. Show which way you are leaning right now. How sure do you feel right now about your decision? Use the following space to list questions, concerns, and next steps.

Here's a record of your answers. You can use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones about your decision. One reason for me to have surgery for my inguinal hernia is to prevent a rare but serious problem called strangulation. I need surgery even though my hernia is small and doesn't bother me.

Are you clear about which benefits and side effects matter most to you? Do you have enough support and advice from others to make a choice? Author: Healthwise Staff. Medical Review: E. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content. To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise.

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Your options Have surgery now to repair the inguinal hernia, even if you do not have symptoms. Take a "wait and see" approach to surgery because the hernia does not bother you much. Key points to remember Hernias don't go away on their own. Only surgery can repair a hernia. Many people are able to delay surgery for months or even years. And some people may never need surgery for a small hernia.

If the hernia is small and you don't have any symptoms, or if the symptoms don't bother you much, you and your doctor may simply continue to watch for symptoms to occur. Many doctors recommend surgery because it prevents a rare but serious problem called strangulation. This occurs when a loop of intestine or a piece of fatty tissue is trapped inside the hernia and is cut off from its blood supply.

Talk with your doctor before wearing a corset or truss to hold in your hernia. What is an inguinal hernia? Why do hernias need to be repaired? In some cases small, painless hernias never need repair.

What kinds of surgery are used for inguinal hernia?