Hernia Surgery (Hiatal Hernia, Umbilical, Inguinal and Incisional)

The Surgical Associates of Marshall County offer treatment for abdominal hernias, including minimally invasive hernia repair in Albertville and Guntersville.

An abdominal hernia refers to a protrusion of tissue through the abdominal wall. There are several types of abdominal hernias, and each is classified based on their placement and cause. Abdominal hernias are common, occurring in about 10 percent of the total population.

Surgical Associates of Marshall County offer treatment for abdominal hernias, including:

• Hiatal hernia: Type of hernia occurring in the upper portion of the stomach, in which part of the upper stomach pushes into the chest.
• Umbilical hernia: This type of hernia develops surrounding the belly button, and develops when the muscle surrounding the navel doesn’t close all the way.
• Inguinal hernia: A type of hernia that appears as a bulge in the groin area that may protrude all the way to the scrotum. Inguinal hernias develop most frequently in men.
• Incisional hernia: This type of hernia develops through a former abdominal surgical wound or scar.

Activities like heavy lifting, child birth or straining during a bowel movement can increase your risk of developing a hernia, or potentially worsen an existing hernia. The most common symptom of any type of hernia is abdominal pain at the hernia’s location. Surgery is the only successful form of treatment for abdominal hernias.

Laparoscopic Hernia Repair

Minimally invasive hernia repair uses laparoscopic surgical methods to strengthen the abdominal wall and return the protruded tissue to its proper placement.

Surgery is most often recommended to repair a hernia when:

• The hernia is becoming larger.
• The hernia is painful.
• A portion of the intestine is blocked or the hernia is impairing digestion in any way.

Hernia repair surgery uses a laparoscope, a thin, flexible tube equipped with a camera, light and other surgical tools to repair the abdominal wall. Using the laparoscope, your surgeon will repair the hernia through three to five minor holes in the abdomen, rather than creating one large incision wound.

During hernia surgery, the abdominal wall is reinforced with a mesh sheet that plugs the abdominal tear.

Side Effects and Risks of Hernia Surgery

The laparoscopic surgical methods permit for reduced post-operative pain, faster recovery period and less risk of infection. Laparoscopic surgery also reduces the risk of developing an incisional hernia at the surgical wound site.

Your general surgeon will give you general guidelines to promote healing, like reducing physical activity and refraining from heavy lifting.

To learn more about hernia surgery at Surgical Associates of Marshall County, please call 256-840-5547 (Albertville) or 256-571-8734 (Guntersville) or complete our online contact form.