Inguinal hernia, which can be seen at any age, is more common in men than women. Inguinal hernia, in which environmental factors are also effective; It can be caused by reasons that increase intra-abdominal pressure, such as asthma, chronic constipation, heavy work and lifting heavy loads. If an inguinal hernia turns into a strangulated hernia, immediate surgical intervention is required. Inguinal hernias, whose treatment is delayed, can cause sexual dysfunction in men, structural deterioration in the urinary bladder and even life-threatening by increasing the risk of strangulated hernia. From Memorial Ankara Hospital, Department of General Surgery, Op. Dr. Yasin Uçar gave information about inguinal hernia and its treatment.
More common in men than women
Inguinal hernia is a disorder caused by tears on the tissue that provides the rigidity of the abdominal wall called fascia in the inguinal region. Inguinal hernia is more common in men than women. Although it can be seen at any age, inguinal hernia is more common in the middle-advanced age group, where the flexibility of the fascia layer is lost due to age. Environmental factors rather than genetic background are more effective in inguinal hernia.
Prolonged coughing and chronic constipation increase the risk of inguinal hernia
Any situation that increases intra-abdominal pressure can cause inguinal hernia. Prolonged cough, asthma, chronic constipation, forced urination due to prostate enlargement in men, doing heavy work, lifting heavy loads and doing heavy sports are among the causes. The symptoms of inguinal hernia, on the other hand, are burning, pain, bulging outward in that region with every maneuver that increases the intra-abdominal pressure in the inguinal region, and sometimes, if the internal organ part that comes out is the intestines, situations such as nausea and vomiting due to strangulated hernia.
Physical examination is an important diagnostic tool
Diagnosis of inguinal hernia is made by physical examination and auxiliary ultrasonographic examination, sometimes advanced radiological diagnostic methods such as tomography and MRI. But the most effective and appropriate diagnostic tool is a good anamnesis and physical examination.
Tissue torn with surgery is repaired
Hernia treatment is a mechanical condition provided surgically. Unless the torn fascia tissue is physically repaired, it is not possible for the body to form a healing tissue there on its own and to cure the disease. Inguinal hernia operations are usually performed with spinal anesthesia and sedation (calming) method. However, if the laparoscopic method is to be preferred, general anesthesia is applied. The laparoscopic method is an option that increases the comfort of both the surgeon and the patient in bilateral inguinal hernias. In general, the operation is performed through three entrance holes and a patch is used. In some selected cases, the operation can be performed with local anesthesia (only by numbing the groin area). In the operation, the torn or weak fascia tissue is repaired. It is often preferred that this repair be done through a patch. The patch is made using suitable material that the body will not reject and acts as a guide for the formation of a hard layer in that area.
A strangulated hernia requires emergency surgery
Inguinal hernia surgery can be performed at any time after the diagnosis is made correctly, according to the availability of the appropriate patient and healthcare provider. It is not an emergency surgery. However, the hernia should be treated before it is too late so that the risky clinical situation called strangulated hernia does not occur and the ruptured area does not enlarge over time and complicate the operation process.
Delay in hernia treatment may cause sexual dysfunction.
Growth occurs in small hernias that are not treated on time. The fact that the tissues that bulge outward and slide out are stuck there over time, causing a strangulated hernia situation, which is an emergency. In addition, the adhesion of the tissues into the hernia sac over time will make it difficult for these tissues to return to the abdominal wall, will always remain outside and increase the risk of suffocation. In male patients, it may cause tissue damage (atrophy), shrinkage of the tissue and sexual dysfunction due to pressure and pressure application on the testicular tissue of the intestinal part descending into the scrotum (bags). However, if the herniated part is the bladder tissue, the body balance related to urine discharge will be disturbed and structural deteriorations may occur in the urinary bladder that cannot be prevented in the long term. It should also be kept in mind that delaying the treatment of inguinal hernia may increase the risk of strangulated hernia and create a life-threatening risk.
Inguinal hernia surgery does not cause infertility
Contrary to what is known, inguinal hernia surgery does not cause infertility. On the contrary, a good surgery performed properly reduces the pressure on the testicular tissue and solves the reproductive system problems due to blood supply disorder. The most important risk that may occur after hernia surgery is recurrence. The person's lifestyle adjustments and failure to pay attention to a disciplined manner for at least two weeks after the operation may lead to deterioration of the repair, sutures, recurrence of the tear, and thus the recurrence of the disease.
Diseases affecting intra-abdominal pressure should be treated before surgery
Causes of increased intra-abdominal pressure, which may risk the repair performed in inguinal hernia surgery, must be eliminated before the operation. For example, the treatment of people with diseases such as asthma, bronchitis, allergic rhinitis before surgery directly affects the healing process. However, conditions that increase intra-abdominal pressure chronically, such as constipation and prostate enlargement in male patients, should be treated before surgery. These conditions are also among the things to be considered after the surgery.
Be the first to comment