Hernia can be a painful and frustrating experience. It can hinder our daily lives. Timely diagnosis and treatment can save you a lot of trouble later on. Consult Dr. Harsh Sheth in Mumbai for accurate diagnosis and trustworthy treatment.

In this article, Dr. Harsh Sheth, one of the best surgeons in Mumbai, will give an overview about hernia and its treatment.

Dr Harsh Sheth will also be explaining about Abdominal wall reconstruction surgery, which is a surgery procedure that treats large hernias.

Dr. Harsh Sheth is one of the top bariatric surgeons who specialize in various fields like laparoscopy, bariatric surgery etc.

What is a Hernia?

A hernia happens when the organ pushes through the surrounding muscle or tissue.

An example of a hernia can be when the intestines break through the surrounding abdominal wall.

Most hernias cases are caused in the abdomen. For large hernias, a surgery called abdominal wall reconstruction is performed, we shall see its definition below.

What is abdominal wall reconstruction?

Abdominal wall reconstruction is a surgery performed on a complex hernia to restore the abdominal wall and repair hernia.

Type of hernia

Recurrent hernia

Most hernia surgeries turn out successful, but sometimes there is a chance that the hernia might return to the same spot; this is called a recurrent hernia.

This can happen for many reasons, such as a surgical error or the wounds caused by the surgery were not completely healed.

Parastomal hernia

A parastomal hernia is when the intestines stick outside the stoma.

The stoma is a surgical opening made by the doctors for patients suffering from poor bowel movements; in some cases, a small part of the intestines can push through the stoma, which can be painful.

Ventral hernia

A ventral hernia is also referred to as an abdominal hernia.

When the intestine protrudes through a gap in the abdominal wall, it is called a ventral hernia.

Causes of hernia

Other than an incision caused by previous surgery, there is no specific reason for what causes a hernia.

Age is a common factor that increases the risk of hernia. Older adults have a higher risk of having a hernia.

some causes of hernia are given below;

• Extreme physical labour
• Smoking
• Obesity
• Lifting heavy objects
• Unhealthy eating habits
• Lifestyle

Diagnosis of hernia

The doctor will run some tests to determine what and where exactly your hernia is located.

Abdominal Ultrasound

Abdominal ultrasound uses sound waves which scans your entire pelvic area.

Ct scan

Ct scans use X-rays to create images of your abdomen and pelvic area.

MRI scan

MRI scans use radio waves and a magnetic field of your entire pelvic area, including the abdomen and the interior of the abdomen.

Abdominal wall reconstruction surgery

Dr Harsh Sheth further explains how abdominal wall reconstruction surgery is performed;

Abdominal reconstruction surgery procedure:

The patient is given general anaesthesia.

The surgery will take up to 6 hours to complete.

The surgeon will cut a long incision in the lower part of the abdomen, where the surgeon can access the wound.

Then the surgeon will reshape the abdominal tissues by layering out the abdominal tissue and then putting them in their natural position.

In the case of a hernia, the surgeon pushes back the protruding tissue back to its place, the weak muscle tissue is stitched back, and mesh is added to give extra support to the abdomen.

Preventing hernia

Some hernia cases cannot be prevented as some of the causes are genetic, some are congenital, and some are just born with weak muscles that make them at a higher risk of having a hernia.

But you can take preventive measures which can reduce the chances of getting a hernia.

• Eating healthy
• Losing weight if you are obese
• Limit consuming alcohol and tobacco
• Limit or stop smoking

Conclusion

Dr Harsh Sheth suggests that following a healthy lifestyle that includes a well-balanced diet, exercising regularly and keeping stress at bay will make a huge impact on your health.