Houston Hernia Center is now one of the largest surgical practices in the country to focus on hernia repair; many hernias are now repaired successfully within 30 minutes in outpatient procedures. There are no sutures to remove after the procedure.
Inguinal Hernias Click here for images of Inguinal Hernias
The most common type of hernia to develop in adults. They occur in a part of the abdominal wall known as the inguinal canal, and are much more common in men. Men develop Inguinal Hernias and women tend to develop Femoral Hernias. Men develop hernias 9:1 to women. A man's testicles must descend through this area before birth. This leaves a natural defect called the internal inguinal ring that can develop into a hernia if it doesn't seal properly. As a result, the contents of the abdomen, such as intestine, may protrude through the opening creating pain and/or a bulge. Inguinal hernias are located in the lower abdomen just above the leg crease, near or adjacent to the pubic area. They can sometimes occur on both sides of the pubic area, and this is called "bilateral" inguinal hernias. All types of hernias develop a lower chance of recurrence when done with a Non-Tension Technique.
Incisional, Ventral and Recurrent Hernias Click here for images of Incisional Hernias
These hernias can appear at the site of a previous surgery weeks, months, or even years later, and can vary in size from small to very large and complex. Studies have shown that 30% of all abdominal incisions later develop hernias. A recurrent hernia may develop after an initial repair with using a Tension technique in which a mesh is sewn directly into the hernia hole under tension. If you think you have an incisional hernia, it's important to see your doctor. Unattended, they may widen and become extremely difficult to repair. Also called ventral hernia. All types of hernias develop a lower chance of recurrence when done with a Non-Tension Technique.
Epigastric Hernias
This type of hernia results from a defect in the midline abdomen between the lower end of the anterior chest wall and the umbilicus
Umbilical Hernias Click here for images of Umbilical Hernias 
Occur near the bellybutton or navel, which has a natural weakness from the blood vessels of the umbilical cord. These hernias may occur in infants at or just after birth, and may resolve at 3 or 4 years of age. However, the area of weakness can persist throughout life, and can occur in men, women and children at any time. In adults, umbilical hernias will not resolve, and may progressively worsen over time. They are sometimes caused by abdominal pressure due to being overweight, excessive coughing, or pregnancy. All types of hernias develop a lower chance of recurrence when done with a Non-Tension Technique.
Femoral Hernias
Much more common in women, but can occur in men. These hernias appear just below your groin crease and are usually the result of pregnancy and childbirth. A weakness in the lower groin allows an intestinal sac to drop into the femoral canal, a space near the femoral vein that carries blood from your leg. These hernias are more prone to develop incarceration or strangulation as an early complication than are inguinal hernias. Therefore, early repair once these hernias are diagnosed is very strongly advised before such complications occur. All types of hernias develop a lower chance of recurrence when done with a Non-Tension Technique.
Treatment Options For a Hernia
Include:
Traditional hernia repair surgery involves making an incision in the abdomen, pushing back any protruding tissue, and then stitching the tissue together to close the incision. Recovery time usually lasts about 4-6 weeks, and there is a 10-15 percent chance that the hernia will recur. This type of tension repair is not recommended for adults.
Non-Tension- repair using a synthetic mesh device. In some cases a section of flat polypropylene mesh is sutured over the hernia on the outer layer of the abdominal wall.
- With laparoscopic repair, a fiber optic viewing tube is used to examine the hernia and place a mesh patch on the inside of the abdominal wall where pressure from within the abdominal cavity helps to hold the mesh in place.
- More recently, one-piece mesh repair devices were developed that can be inserted and positioned to cover the affected area from both the inside and outside of the abdominal wall. Now available is a novel version of this device, featuring a mesh cone that can be inserted through a small incision and then flattened to cover and support the inside of the abdominal wall. This new technique has been extensively studied and has the highest success rate of any of the prior techniques. The recurrence rate has been shown to be
1 in 1000 cases for Non-Tension repairs instead of 12 in 100 as is seen in tension repairs.
In the procedure involving the mesh device, known as the PROLENE® HERNIA SYSTEM, surgeons insert the device right through the abdominal wall at the site of direct or indirect inguinal hernias. The inside section of the mesh device is positioned to lie flat against the inner abdominal muscle wall, and is held in place by the natural pressure of the abdomen. Minimal suturing is used to secure the outer section of mesh in place on the outside of the abdominal muscle wall. The high tissue compatibility of PROLENE® mesh enables tissue in growth for fast healing.
The first and only umbilical hernia
repair device featuring lighter-weight
mesh and exclusive absorbable
deployment technology.
- Heal Naturally
Lighter-weight mesh with larger pores for natural abdominal wall mobility
- Heal Strongly
Macroporous PVP(tm) Device promotes strong healing with robust tissue ingrowth
- Heal Comfortably
Unique design promotes increased flexibility for greater patient comfort and mobility
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"With newer treatment options we can now repair a hernia using an outpatient procedure that is generally faster and less invasive than traditional surgical procedures," explains Dr. Garza. "Following treatment, hernia patients can now return home the same day and resume many normal activities in a matter of days."
A hernia is a weakness or tear in the abdominal muscles that allows fatty tissue or an organ such as the intestines to protrude through the muscle tissue. Hernias most often occur in or around the groin, abdomen, and navel or near previous sites of abdominal surgery. A hernia will generally increase in size and become more painful if left untreated, and can also lead to more serious, life-threatening complications.
"In the past, patients often spent weeks or even months recovering from hernia repair surgery. Houston Hernia Center is committed to being a leader in hernia repair to make sure that patients learn about and have access to all of the most advanced treatment options. Our goal is to get them back to their regular routine faster and with less discomfort," adds Dr. Garza.
The National Center for Health Statistics estimates that about 5 million people in the U.S. have an abdominal hernia. Hernia repair is one of the most common surgical procedures performed in the U.S. More than 750,000 people seek treatment for hernias each year.
Click here for more information on Hernia Treatments
Marketed by ETHICON® Products,
a division of ETHICON®, INC., a Johnson & Johnson®
company, PROLENE Hernia System® has been available
since 1997 and is indicated for the repair of inguinal
(direct & indirect) hernia defects. PROLENE Hernia
System® may require removal if used in contaminated
wounds. The device, if used in infants or children with
future growth potential, will not stretch significantly
as the patient grows. The PROLENE Hernia System®
should be shaped and fixed in accordance with instructions
for use accompanying the product. Potential adverse
reactions include those
typically associated with surgically
implanted materials, such as infection potentiation,
inflammation, adhesion formation, fistula formation,
and extrusion. For full prescribing information,
see package insert. |
