Inguinal hernia: symptoms, causes and treatment

The one known as inguinal hernia It occurs mainly when an organ of the abdominal area is gradually displaced from its original position due to an external agent or by the weakening of a certain muscle or tissue in the entire surrounding area. It usually occurs in the intestinal area, very close to the inguinal region and is characterized by the appearance of a small lump in the groin or in the scrotal sac.

This canal closes, preventing the testicles from returning to the abdomen again. However, if this area does not close completely, a section of intestine can move inside the mentioned channel, originating the hernia.

It is, in fact, also a condition that can also appear in girls and adult women, since even if they do not have testicles, they do have the inguinal canal.

What is inguinal hernia?

The one named as inguinal hernia it is a kind of hernia which, according to various statistical data, tends to represent around 85% of all the hernias. Not in vain, it is one of the most common surgical procedures performed during childhood.

As the male fetus grows and matures during pregnancy, the testicles develop in the abdomen. Then they move to the scrotum, through an area that is called the "inguinal canal."

That is, basically consists of a bulge in the groin region, which tends to increase in size with the effort that can be carried out by the person, and that decreases or disappears when it is at rest or in bed.

What are your causes?

Inguinal hernia may appear after birth and therefore it can be a congenital pathology due to a series of malformations during the gestation period. It is also characterized as a hernia that has a higher incidence in middle-aged men (40%) while in women it does not exceed 20%.

In short, this type of hernias usually manifest due to a defect or malformation or inguinal canal. However, there are other risk factors that increase the development of this pathology.

Among all of them, it is worth noting especially in those Men over 50 years of Caucasian race with a high family history in inguinal hernia. Also a chronic cough or constipation generalized may be intimately related to the appearance of this hernia.

Also, a excessive physical load and too much pressure in the abdominal area accompanied by other conditions such as Obesity or uncontrolled smoking they can also cause the onset of inguinal hernia.

Therefore, as we mentioned, although the inguinal hernia can appear in childhood due to the weakness of the lower abdominal wall fruit of the bad closure of the "inguinal canal", there are also other causes of inguinal hernia:

  • Weakened weaves fruit of age.
  • Pregnancy in women.
  • Intense effort of the abdominal muscles.

Symptoms of inguinal hernia

As we have already told you, this hernia is characterized by the appearance of a slight lump around the entire groin or abdomen which in most cases is accompanied by severe pain and swelling throughout the surrounding area. Although to these inconveniences, they can also come accompanied by the following symptoms:

  • Fibrosis or high fever
  • Pain that usually appears suddenly
  • Considerable constipation at any time of the day.
  • Nausea, vomiting and malaise
  • Stomach ache
  • Irritation in the area and crying if the babies are suffering from this hernia.

On the other hand, It should be noted that the hernia is usually visible when the person makes an involuntary effort coughing uncontrollably or while doing too much effort or pressure when defecating.

Inguinal hernia treatment

The most common and widespread treatment when treating inguinal hernia usually consists of a surgery that is called herniorrhaphy or hernioplasty, an operation that has already been practiced in more than 20 million patients over the past few years.

However, because there are inguinal hernias that with some subtle differences, the procedure to treat them may vary slightly.

In fact, if this type of hernia has not yet developed too much, there is the possibility of remove it manually by doing a gentle massage with the fingers throughout the affected area during the 24-48 days after the appearance of the lumps.

Although those patients who suffer from a much more developed and painful inguinal hernia, it seems very important that they undergo a surgical operation as soon as possible in order to mitigate their symptoms little by little.

Once this is known, we will differentiate between two types of surgery to treat inguinal hernia. First, there is open surgery that basically consists of a 6 cm long incision along the groin. There, the hernia is reduced and then a polypropylene mesh is added to close the wound but at the same time allow a correct circulation.

On the other hand, there is another more modern surgery called laparoscopic repair that involves inserting a thin tube with a tiny camera inside. Once it reaches the affected area, an incision is made where a gas is introduced through this tube that "inflates" the entire abdominal area. It is a type of surgery that hardly leaves any discomfort and its healing is much faster. This article is published for informational purposes only. It can not and should not replace the consultation with a Physician. We advise you to consult your Trusted Doctor. ThemesGastrointestinal disorders

Inguinal Hernia Symptoms and Treatment (February 2024)