A ventral hernia is a protrusion of tissue through a weak spot in the abdominal wall, often caused by a surgical wound that hasn’t healed properly. It can be painful and requires surgery, with a high recurrence rate. Surgeons can reduce the risk of recurrence by using a mesh to repair the wound. Laparoscopic surgery is preferred as it requires smaller incisions and reduces recovery time.
A ventral hernia is a type of abdominal hernia, a condition in which an organ, the fascia surrounding an organ or muscle, or other tissue, protrudes through a weak spot in the abdominal wall, leading to a noticeable bulge. Also known as an incisional hernia, a ventral hernia is distinguished by the fact that the weak spot is the result of a surgical wound in the abdomen that hasn’t fully or hasn’t healed properly. In addition to the existence of a protrusion where scar tissue is located, this type of hernia can become quite painful, particularly on strenuous movement, typically requires surgery to repair, and has a high recurrence rate at multiple points along the line. length of the scar.
Identifiable as a lump under the skin at or around the area of the surgical scar, the hernia can push through both small wounds, such as from an appendectomy, and large wounds, such as from major abdominal surgery. Until the surgical opening has healed properly, such as from an infection, any weak spot, regardless of size, is vulnerable to an incisional hernia. They are especially common along the linea alba, the vertical midline of the abdomen that extends from the xiphoid process at the lower end of the sternum, or sternum, to the pubic bone at the base of the pelvis. Pain from a hernia at this site can be amplified with strenuous movements, such as laughing, coughing, or heavy lifting, and can range from mild to extreme depending on the severity of the hernia.
Surgeons often access the abdominal cavity to perform procedures such as intestinal repair by cutting along the linea alba. As the incision heals, a postoperative complication such as an infection can disrupt the healing process, and a ventral hernia can form along the scar tissue that forms here. An example would be the intestines pushing forward against a weakened segment of the linea alba in the lower abdomen, presenting as a bulge under the skin as the intestines are pushed towards the surface. Further surgery would then be required to reopen the previous incision and repair the hernia.
The method chosen to close this incision following the second surgery may determine the risk of recurrence of a ventral hernia. If the incision is closed using only sutures, which create a great deal of tension along the length of the wound, a hernia is more likely to recur. Instead, it is recommended that surgeons repair the wound using a mesh located under the abdominal muscles, which puts less strain on the opening. Due to the high risk of infection due to the size of the incision required, however, many surgeons prefer to repair a ventral hernia using a method that inserts the mesh into the abdomen laparoscopically. This requires significantly smaller surgical incisions, eliminates the need to reopen the original surgical incision where the tissue is already weakened, and shortens recovery time from surgery and reduces post-operative pain.
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