Hernias can be defined as swellings on the skin surface as a result of abdominal contents breaching the abdominal wall. A hernia is classically made up of a neck which fans out to form the body that holds the protruding contents within the sac as whole. Generally, most contain intestines even though they could also contain the stomach or other abdominal organs. These are some of the basic principles on hernia Valley Stream NY residents may be interested in.
Hernias can be said to be reducible or irreducible. Irreducibility literally means that the hernia cannot go back to its original position regardless of an attempt to retract it physically. On the flip side, reducible ones tend to go back when one lies down or when they get hold of the swelling and try to push it back. Similarly, the contents can be reduced when the doctor attempts to do so. The fact that a protrusion can be reduced lessens the risk of it getting complicated.
Twisting may lead to a phenomenon known as strangulation. This means that the contents in the sac are receiving very little or no blood supply at all. This is bad for the patient because it is very painful and the affected tissues could die. It, therefore, needs to be detected in time and the tissues at risk salvaged. A patient is more predisposed to strangulation if their hernia is irreducible and has a limited neck.
Other than strangulation, hernias can also be obstructed. This usually happens the tissues in question are intestines. The normal contraction and relaxation of intestinal muscles is interfered with and as a result, intestinal contents accumulate in one part leading to enforcement and possible perforation. This is why surgical correction needs to be prompt. Some of the physical pointers to intestinal obstruction include vomiting, abdominal bulging and constipation.
Hernias can also be classified based on their location in the body. Groin hernias can be inguinal or femoral. The inguinal type can further be described as being direct and indirect. This type is by far the commonest. The femoral type tends to occur more in women than men. Other types include diaphragmatic, umbilical and esophageal.
Increased abdominal pressure due to one reason or the other contributes to weakening of the abdominal muscular wall and hence a tendency of organs to bulge through. This may occur when one strains every time they pass stool because of constipation from low fiber diet, when they use some drugs or due to dehydration. People with lower urinary tract obstruction also tend to strain during urination and are therefore also predisposed to developing this problem. Cigarette smoking, weight lifting, obesity and pregnancy are also part of this list.
Surprisingly, some people may get hernias and yet have none of the common risk factors. Such people could be having some abnormality in their connective tissue that makes it weak. More often than not, they get umbilical hernias which is especially common in the young population. Lucky enough, most of them regress spontaneously.
Herniorrhaphy is the treatment of choice for hernias. In this procedure, the surgeon makes an incision through the sac and returns the protruding tissues back to where they belong. The weak abdominal wall is then repaired using a special kind of mesh which is good at minimizing the chances of recurrence. It is done under general anaesthesia using either the open method or laparoscopy.
Hernias can be said to be reducible or irreducible. Irreducibility literally means that the hernia cannot go back to its original position regardless of an attempt to retract it physically. On the flip side, reducible ones tend to go back when one lies down or when they get hold of the swelling and try to push it back. Similarly, the contents can be reduced when the doctor attempts to do so. The fact that a protrusion can be reduced lessens the risk of it getting complicated.
Twisting may lead to a phenomenon known as strangulation. This means that the contents in the sac are receiving very little or no blood supply at all. This is bad for the patient because it is very painful and the affected tissues could die. It, therefore, needs to be detected in time and the tissues at risk salvaged. A patient is more predisposed to strangulation if their hernia is irreducible and has a limited neck.
Other than strangulation, hernias can also be obstructed. This usually happens the tissues in question are intestines. The normal contraction and relaxation of intestinal muscles is interfered with and as a result, intestinal contents accumulate in one part leading to enforcement and possible perforation. This is why surgical correction needs to be prompt. Some of the physical pointers to intestinal obstruction include vomiting, abdominal bulging and constipation.
Hernias can also be classified based on their location in the body. Groin hernias can be inguinal or femoral. The inguinal type can further be described as being direct and indirect. This type is by far the commonest. The femoral type tends to occur more in women than men. Other types include diaphragmatic, umbilical and esophageal.
Increased abdominal pressure due to one reason or the other contributes to weakening of the abdominal muscular wall and hence a tendency of organs to bulge through. This may occur when one strains every time they pass stool because of constipation from low fiber diet, when they use some drugs or due to dehydration. People with lower urinary tract obstruction also tend to strain during urination and are therefore also predisposed to developing this problem. Cigarette smoking, weight lifting, obesity and pregnancy are also part of this list.
Surprisingly, some people may get hernias and yet have none of the common risk factors. Such people could be having some abnormality in their connective tissue that makes it weak. More often than not, they get umbilical hernias which is especially common in the young population. Lucky enough, most of them regress spontaneously.
Herniorrhaphy is the treatment of choice for hernias. In this procedure, the surgeon makes an incision through the sac and returns the protruding tissues back to where they belong. The weak abdominal wall is then repaired using a special kind of mesh which is good at minimizing the chances of recurrence. It is done under general anaesthesia using either the open method or laparoscopy.
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