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Abdominal Wall Hernias

By

Parswa Ansari

, MD, Hofstra Northwell-Lenox Hill Hospital, New York

Reviewed/Revised Apr 2023
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An abdominal wall hernia is an opening or area of weakness in the abdominal wall through which abdominal contents can protrude.

  • An abdominal wall hernia causes a noticeable bulge but little discomfort.

  • The diagnosis is made by physical examination and sometimes ultrasonography.

  • Treatment involves surgery to repair the hernia.

Abdominal hernias are very common, particularly among men. There are about 700,000 hernia operations each year in the United States. Hernias are usually named for the area in which they occur.

The abdominal wall is thick and tough in most places, so hernias usually occur in an area of weakness where a previous opening has closed. Heavy lifting or straining may make a hernia more obvious but does not cause a hernia to form.

Groin hernias

Groin hernias include

  • Inguinal hernias

  • Femoral hernias

A femoral hernia may develop just below the crease of the groin in the middle of the thigh where the femoral artery and vein enter the leg. This type of hernia is more common among women.

Abdominal wall hernias

Abdominal wall hernias (also called ventral hernias) include

  • Umbilical hernias

  • Epigastric hernias

  • Incisional hernias

Umbilical hernias occur around the navel (umbilicus). Many babies have a small umbilical hernia because the opening for the umbilical cord blood vessels did not close completely. In younger children, doctors sometimes monitor umbilical hernias Umbilical Hernia in Children A hernia is a small opening in the abdominal wall. An umbilical hernia occurs near or at the bellybutton (umbilicus). Abdominal organs protrude through a hole in the in the abdominal wall near... read more Umbilical Hernia in Children to see whether they close on their own.

Epigastric hernias form through natural small defects in the midline of the upper abdominal wall (above the umbilicus).

Incisional hernias sometimes form through a surgical incision in the abdominal wall. This type of hernia may develop many years after surgery.

Incarceration and strangulation

Sometimes, a loop of intestine or a piece of fat becomes stuck in the hernia, a condition called incarceration. An incarcerated hernia can block (obstruct) the intestine.

Rarely, the hernia traps the intestine so tightly that it cuts off the blood supply, a condition called strangulation. With strangulation, the trapped piece of intestine can develop gangrene in as few as 6 hours. With gangrene, the intestinal wall dies, usually causing rupture, which leads to peritonitis Peritonitis Abdominal pain is common and often minor. Severe abdominal pain that comes on quickly, however, almost always indicates a significant problem. The pain may be the only sign of the need for surgery... read more (inflammation and usually infection of the abdominal cavity), shock, and, if untreated, death.

Sports hernias

A sports hernia is not a true hernia because there is no opening or weakness in the abdominal wall. There is also no protrusion of abdominal contents. Instead, the disorder involves a tear of one or more muscles, tendons, or ligaments in the lower abdomen or groin, particularly where they attach to the pubic bone. The term sports hernia may have come about because the pain occurs in the same area as an inguinal hernia.

Did You Know...

  • A sports hernia is not really a hernia. It is a tear of a muscle, tendon, or ligament in part of the abdomen where hernias are common.

Symptoms of Abdominal Wall Hernias

Most people usually notice only a bulge at the site of the hernia. Sometimes the hernia appears only with lifting, coughing, or straining. There is usually little or no discomfort, and the bulge can be pushed back in (reduced) by the person or a doctor.

An incarcerated hernia is usually more painful, and the bulge cannot be reduced.

A strangulated hernia causes steady, gradually increasing pain, typically with nausea and vomiting, cannot be reduced, and is tender when touched.

Diagnosis of Abdominal Wall Hernias

Treatment of Abdominal Wall Hernias

  • Surgical repair

Umbilical hernias in infants rarely strangulate and are not treated. Most go away without treatment within several years. Very large umbilical hernias may be repaired after the infant is 2 years old.

Umbilical hernias in adults cause cosmetic concerns and can be repaired at a time that is convenient for the person (called elective surgery). Although umbilical hernias in adults do not usually strangulate and incarcerate, these complications can occur.

Because other types of hernias are more likely to strangulate, doctors usually repair them surgically when they are diagnosed. If the hernia is incarcerated or strangulated, surgery is done immediately. Otherwise, elective surgery is done. Surgical repair is aimed at closing or covering the opening so the abdominal contents cannot slide back out. Surgery usually relieves the symptoms of a hernia, depending on its size and the amount of discomfort it caused.

Holding the hernia in with tape or bandages or by other means sometimes makes the person more comfortable but does not lower the risk of strangulation or allow the opening to close. Therefore, these are not recommended treatments.

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