Health Information : Incisional Hernia

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What is Incisional Hernia?

Incisional Hernia is a weakness in the muscle caused by the incision made in the prior abdominal surgery. To be more precise, when a surgery is done in the abdomen, an incision is made in its muscles. The surgeon closes the layers of the abdominal wall with stitches. At times, this closure just comes apart with time or it simply fails to heal resulting in the underneath tissues protruding from the opening, causing Incisional Hernia. This hernia can happen months or even years after the surgery.

What causes Incisional Hernia?

Various factors are responsible for Incisional Hernia to occur, namely:

• Infection at the site
• Poor wound care
• Improper surgical techniques/stitching
• Other complication that affect the past surgical wound

There are often certain risk factors for Incisional Hernia, such as obesity, pregnancy, excessive pressure while coughing/sneezing/bowel movement, lifting heavy weights, steroid medicines and having lung problems after surgery.

What are the symptoms of Incisional Hernia?

The most common symptoms of Incisional Hernia are:

• Bulge near the surgical scar
• Visible protrusion of some internal contents
• Fever
• Infection Pain, redness and swelling at the site
• Foul-smelling discharge
• Bowel obstruction

How can Incisional Hernia be treated?

Incisional Hernia doesn’t heal on its own and can only be treated with surgical intervention. The two main procedures that may be done to treat Incisional Hernia are:

Open Laparoscopic Hernia is repaired with MESH.