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Basic Principles On Hernia Valley Stream NY Patients May Find Useful

By Arthur Wright


A hernia is simply an external protrusion of internal structures as a result of a defect in the muscular wall of a body cavity. It comprises a sac and its contents together with a neck. In most instances, hernia sac contents are intestines. They could also be other soft tissue structures and organs. These are some of the facts on hernia Valley Stream NY patients may find useful.

Hernias can be said to be reducible or irreducible. Irreducibility literally means that the hernia cannot go back to its original position regardless of an attempt to retract it physically. On the flip side, reducible ones tend to go back when one lies down or when they get hold of the swelling and try to push it back. Similarly, the contents can be reduced when the doctor attempts to do so. The fact that a protrusion can be reduced lessens the risk of it getting complicated.

When blood supply to the contents of the hernia is compromised, it is said to be strangulated. This is bound to happen if the protrusion is irreducible and when the neck is extremely narrow. Ultimately, the tissues within the sac permanently become dysfunctional if the strangulation is not reversed in time. Pain is often the first sign that a hernia could be strangulated.

Other than strangulation, hernias can also be obstructed. This usually happens the tissues in question are intestines. The normal contraction and relaxation of intestinal muscles is interfered with and as a result, intestinal contents accumulate in one part leading to enforcement and possible perforation. This is why surgical correction needs to be prompt. Some of the physical pointers to intestinal obstruction include vomiting, abdominal bulging and constipation.

Hernias can also be classified based on their location in the body. Groin hernias can be inguinal or femoral. The inguinal type can further be described as being direct and indirect. This type is by far the commonest. The femoral type tends to occur more in women than men. Other types include diaphragmatic, umbilical and esophageal.

Increased abdominal pressure due to one reason or the other contributes to weakening of the abdominal muscular wall and hence a tendency of organs to bulge through. This may occur when one strains every time they pass stool because of constipation from low fiber diet, when they use some drugs or due to dehydration. People with lower urinary tract obstruction also tend to strain during urination and are therefore also predisposed to developing this problem. Cigarette smoking, weight lifting, obesity and pregnancy are also part of this list.

Some hernias happen as a result of a familial form of connective tissue disorder. In this case, children are born with an already weakened abdominal wall. The most common form that occurs in this situation is the umbilical type. The good news about this kind is that most of them heal spontaneously over a number of years.

Herniorrhaphy is the treatment of choice for hernias. In this procedure, the surgeon makes an incision through the sac and returns the protruding tissues back to where they belong. The weak abdominal wall is then repaired using a special kind of mesh which is good at minimizing the chances of recurrence. It is done under general anaesthesia using either the open method or laparoscopy.




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