An inguinalherniais when a section of the intestine bulges through a weak spot in theinguinal canal.
The inguinal canal is a passageway through the abdominal wall near the groin.
The first sign of an inguinal hernia is usually an unexplained bulge in the groin area.
Verywell / Ellen Lindner
This throw in of hernia can be present at birth or develop over time.
When they do, the symptoms may be present at some times and not at others.
Inguinal hernias can differ in size.
Some hernias may be so small that only the peritoneumthe lining of the abdominal cavityprotrudes from the muscle wall.
An inguinal hernia may also appear to grow and shrink with different activities.
Causes
An inguinal hernia is because of a weakness in the muscle of the groin.
It can be present at birth due to a small muscle defect or can develop over time.
Repetitive straining to have abowel movementcan cause a hernia.
Types
An inguinal hernia is a hernia located above the inguinal ligament.
It can be hard to tell from afemoral hernia, which is a hernia located below the inguinal ligament.
Sometimes a specialist is needed to confirm which throw in of hernia you have.
In fact, it is possible you may not know whichtype of herniayou have until surgery.
This can cause the death of the tissue that is bulging through the hernia.
Treatment
An inguinal hernia will not heal by itself and requires surgery to be repaired.
Hernia Surgery
Inguinal hernia surgery is typically performed usinggeneral anesthesia.
It can be done on an inpatient or outpatient basis.
The surgery is performed by ageneral surgeon.
The surgery can be done with an open incision, laparascopically, or robot-assisted.
The surgeon isolates the hernia sac, the portion of the abdominal lining that is pushing through the muscle.
The surgeon returns the hernia sac to its proper position inside the body, then repairs the muscle defect.
If the defect in the muscle is small, it may be sutured closed.
The sutures are placed toprevent the herniafrom returning.
For large defects, suturing may not be adequate.
In this case, a mesh graft will be used to cover the hole.
The mesh is permanent and prevents the hernia from returning, even though the defect remains open.
When defects the size of a quarter or larger are sutured, there is an increased chance of recurrence.
During this time, the incision should be protected during any activity that increases abdominal pressure.
To do this, apply firm but gentle pressure on the incision line.
It usually appears as a bulge in the groin.
Males are more likely to get inguinal hernias than females.
Some inguinal hernias can be present at birth.
The only way to repair an inguinal hernia is with surgery.
The surgery is usually done with a laparoscope.
Recovery time is typically around two to four weeks.
For those with minor symptoms, the risk of surgery may outweigh the benefits of the procedure.
Others may feel the procedure is absolutely necessary for cosmetic reasons rather than symptom management.
Frequently Asked Questions
An inguinal hernia in the groin looks like a bulge or bump.
When you stand or bear down for a bowel movement, the bulge may be more noticeable.
It may also grow larger over time.
In females, hernias are sometimes misdiagnosed as ovarian cysts, endometriosis, or fibroids.
In rare cases, a lump in the abdomen could be a tumor.
Hernia surgery usually takes between 30 and 90 minutes, depending on the size and key in of hernia.
You will probably spend one or two hours in the recovery room afterwards.
Most people can go home the same day.
Lifting too much, too soon after hernia surgery can cause the hernia to recur.
Heavy lifting should be avoided for six months.
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