Hernia Repairs
A hernia was initially defined by Sir Astley Cooper (1768-1841), who was a pioneering anatomist and surgeon. A hernia occurs when an internal part of the body (usually bowel or fat) pushes through a weakness in the abdominal wall. It is more pronounced when straining or standing up and can disappear when one lies down. A hernia most commonly occurs after a patient has undergone another operation and so already has an incision. This is called an incisional hernia and can be unsightly for the patient, especially if large. An inguinal hernia is located in the groin, with a much greater incidence amongst men and normally requires repair as it will only increase in size. Hernias can also cause bowel obstruction, especially incisional and if this occurs, it is treated as a surgical emergency. All types of hernia can cause a degree of discomfort and are best repaired with reconstruction of the area of weakness. For most hernias there are more than one option available for repair, with the majority requiring mesh to reinforce the abdominal wall defect and thereby considerably reducing the risk of a recurrence.