Inguinal hernia
What is it?
Inguinal hernia, or the protrusion of an organ or part of it through a defect in the abdominal wall located in the lower region of the abdomen, namely the inguinal region, is a very common condition. Every year approximately 20 million people undergo surgery for inguinal hernia around the world. In Italy, it's around 150,000 per year. Risk factors for the development of an inguinal hernia include, in addition to a certain familial predisposition, age, overweight, smoking, inducing cough, heavy lifting, and pregnancy.
Which are the symptoms?
Patients often first notice a soft and painless swelling in the groin or scrotum, which may lessen on its own or with local massages. Over time, the hernia can become more noticeable and may grow in size and firmness. This can impact normal bowel function and cause obstruction. If not treated promptly and properly, complications like incarceration (where the hernia contents cannot be pushed back through the opening) and strangulation can occur. These complications can lead to serious issues such as ecrosis of the strangulated tissues and require immediate surgical intervention.
How is it diagnosed?
A prompt and accurate diagnosis is crucial for effective treatment, enabling a quick return to normal activities for the patient and preventing potential complications. An experienced surgeon can detect the presence of an inguinal hernia during a clinical examination, distinguishing it from similar conditions like pubic inguinal pain syndrome (PIPS or sports hernia). Additionally, instrumental examinations such as ultrasound and dynamic computed tomography of the abdominal wall can be used for diagnosis.
How is it treated?
Inguinal hernia is successfully treated surgically, and each patient is offered an individual approach, taking into account the characteristics of the hernia and personal characteristics. This can be a mini-surgery under local anesthesia with or without a prosthesis, using different types of prostheses including synthetic, biological or biosynthetic, and sutureless closure techniques using special adhesives. The doctor may also suggest laparoscopic or robotic techniques, which require general anesthesia.
The correct choice of surgical method provides excellent results both in terms of efficiency and quality of life after recovery. Physical activity can be resumed after a week, and sedentary work the very next day. Typically, operations in the early stages of hernias are performed as outpatient surgery, or the patient may remain in the hospital for only one night.
Where do we treat it?
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