Treatment
Treatment options for hernias include non-operative management
and surgery.
Non-operative management
If you have a hernia but it is not causing any (or only minimal)
symptoms, and not impacting on your activities or quality of life,
it may not be necessary to have an operation to repair the hernia.
While having a hernia does carry some small risks, for example of
bowel becoming stuck in the hernia causing an emergency blockage,
the risk of this may be low and has to be compared against the
risks of performing surgery. Your doctor can help you decide what
is best for you.
Some patients find special supports such as a truss or corset
can help support their hernia and control any symptoms they may
have.
Surgery
The only way to get rid of a hernia is an operation. In general,
a hernia can be repaired by either using stitches to hold the hole
closed to allow the body to heal over, or by inserting a mesh to
reinforce the body's healing process. Which method is used may be
determined by the type of hernia, its size, whether it is the first
time the hernia is being repaired or if it has come back after a
previous repair. Most hernia types can also be done using a
key-hole approach or through an open operation. Usually the
operation is done under a general anaesthetic, but some types of
hernia can be repaired under local anaesthetic. This may be
considered if the risks of general anaesthesia are thought to be
particularly high. The type of operation, use of mesh and type of
anaesthetic can be discussed with your doctor.
As with any operation, there are benefits and risks. The
benefits are that the operation can get rid of the hernia,
relieving any symptoms and preventing problems that can develop
such as a blockage to the bowel. However, there are risks. These
include bleeding and infection, as well as clots on the legs or
lungs, and damage to nearby structures such as blood vessels or
nerves. Hernias can also come back, often called a 'recurrence'.
Different types of hernia have slightly different risks which your
doctor will discuss with you. Specific details about repair of the
most common type of hernia, the inguinal hernia, are described
under the tabs for these.
