Types of Hernia

Overview

This is an overview of various types of hernias. They all occur at the weaker points of the abdominal muscles and they can cause serious complications if intestine gets trapped into a hernia. It is important to see your specialist at Sivahospital for an early diagnosis, to avoid complications which make it harder to repair the hernia at a later stage.

Incisional hernia

  • An incisional hernia is linked to a weakness at the site of a surgical scar, if you have had previous surgery. An incisional hernia often appears long after the previous surgery and its size can vary. Once it becomes larger, it may be harder to repair and there is always the risk of complications as it may trap part of your intestine.
  • The risks are serious when bowel tissue is strangulated, causing a life-threatening situation when the blood supply is cut off. In this case emergency surgery may be required. This is why it is essential to speak to one of our specialist surgeons if you believe that you may have an incisional hernia.
types of hernia

Femoral hernia

  • A Femoral hernia is named after the femoral artery, in the lower part of the groin. When you overstrain, intestine or fat bulges through a weak spot of the abdominal wall in this area, and when it pushes through the wall of the femoral canal, it is called a femoral hernia.
  • Women are more likely to suffer from this type of hernia. That is because the condition is often linked to the weakening of the femoral canal during pregnancy.
  • Typically, a femoral hernia appears as a bulge in the groin or thigh area. The bulge can be the size of a grape, which is why most patients don't really experience any symptoms. But a femoral hernia may contain intestine, and in that case an emergency can be triggered when the intestine becomes strangulated.
  • Our specialist surgeons build on many years experience performing open and laparoscopic surgery for femoral hernias or other types of hernia.

Umbilical hernia

An umbilical hernia is diagnosed when a piece of fat tissue or intestine protrudes through the abdominal wall in the belly button area. It is important to know that an umbilical hernia will not resolve through natural healing, and that it may lead to further complications if left untreated. The umbilical hernia repair surgery consists of pushing back the intestine and the abdominal lining, and of repairing the hole in the abdominal wall. Usually your surgeon will insert a synthetic mesh, to strengthen the area.

Epigastric hernia

  • An epigastric hernia is caused by a weakness of the abdominal wall between the belly button and the sternum of the rib cage. An epigastric hernia is quite common both in children and adults and may even occur in infants. It is noticed as a small mass of fat or a bump.
  • Similar to other hernia types, an epigastric hernia will not resolve through natural healing. If you believe you may be suffering from a hernia, it is recommended to obtain a diagnosis from our experienced surgeons. Surgery may be required to avoid further complications caused by an epigastric hernia.
  • We're here to help you with routine tests, a clear diagnosis and expert surgery. And in between, you can count on our team's relentless efforts to care for you and to support you.

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Inguinal hernia

Inguinal hernias or groin hernias are the most common hernia types in the abdominal area. This type occurs more frequently in men.

Hiatal hernia

A hiatal hernia is a hernia condition in which part of your stomach pushes up through your diaphragm muscle.

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