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Abdominal hernias occur when organs protrude through weakened areas of the abdominal wall, often causing pain and complications. Surgery is the primary treatment, but hernias can recur. Maintaining good health and seeking prompt medical attention for symptoms is important.
An abdominal hernia is a hernia that occurs in the abdomen area, the part of the torso that extends between the pelvis and the chest. Hernias are medical conditions that occur when organs protrude through areas of the body designed to protect them. In the case of an abdominal hernia, the hernia usually involves the intestine, which pushes through a weakened area of the abdominal wall. Abdominal hernias can have some very serious complications and require prompt and effective treatment in most cases.
Many things can cause a hernia. Weakening of the abdominal wall can be caused by strain, a medical condition, or previous surgery. Once a soft spot emerges, it can quickly turn into a hole, allowing intestines to slip through. Classically, the intestine is covered by the peritoneum, a thick layer of material that normally lines the abdominal cavity. An abdominal hernia can also involve fatty tissue.
Often, the hernia causes pain and a palpable lump in the herniated area. If enough intestines protrude, the hernia can strangulate, which means that the blood supply to the herniated tissue is cut off. Strangulation can cause infection, gangrene, and intestinal obstruction, which in turn can result in a variety of symptoms including nausea, vomiting, and constipation. A hernia doesn’t necessarily have to be large for strangulation to occur, which means that sometimes the first signs of the hernia can be missed.
The treatment for an abdominal hernia is surgery. In hernia surgery, the herniated material is examined to confirm that it has not been damaged before being pushed back into the abdominal cavity. The hernia site is then closed, with some clinicians using particularly large hernia meshes to prevent the hernia from recurring during the healing stages. An abdominal hernia can recur in the future, because the hernia and subsequent surgery weakens the abdomen, making it ideal for a hernia in the future.
It can be difficult to prevent a hernia. Maintaining good general health and avoiding excessive strain on the abdomen can reduce the risk, but people cannot control all potential causes of weakness in the abdominal wall. It’s important to get to the doctor about a suspected abdominal hernia as quickly as possible, especially if you see or feel a noticeable lump, or if you’ve had symptoms of infection and digestive upset. A doctor can examine the site, determine the nature of the hernia, and make treatment recommendations.
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