Abdominal hernia
Abdominal hernia or abdominal wall hernia is one of the less common types of hernia that a specialized general surgeon has to deal with. It occurs both in men and women. Treatment should be immediate, as it does not get better over time. On the contrary, if left untreated, abdominal wall hernia will only get worse.
Dr. Konstantinidis and his Surgical Team are pioneers globally in performing operations assisted by the state-of-the-art robotic system Da Vinci® at Athens Medical Center, with impressive results and low complication rates by international standards.
What is an Abdominal Hernia?
Abdominal wall hernia or abdominal hernia occurs when an internal organ is moved from its anatomical position and protrudes through the abdominal wall. The organ is projected through an orifice and causes a bulge in the weak muscles of the abdominal wall.
Depending on where on the abdominal wall they appear, abdominal hernias are distinguished in: umbilical hernias (near the navel), postoperative hernias (near incisions from previous abdominal surgery), epigastric hernias (between the sternum and the umbilicus), lateral abdominal hernias (on the lateral or posterior abdominal walls) and ventral hernias (in the midline of the abdomen below the navel).
Θέλεις να μάθεις περισσότερα για Abdominal hernia ;
Λάβε το infographic στο email σου
Why choose Dr. Konstantinidis?
Dr. K. M. Konstantinidis and his team possess vast experience in the field of laparoscopic and robotic surgery.
Dr. Konstantinidis is the pioneer of Robotic Surgery in Greece and one of the leading figures internationally in the field, having performed the largest series of General Surgery operations in Europe with the innovative Da Vinci® robotic system, including inguinal hernia surgeries.
Are there any symptoms in the abdomen?
The most obvious symptom of an abdominal hernia is a bulge that forms on some part of the abdominal wall. Most often the hernia is visible to the naked eye. If this is not treated immediately then there is a risk of strangulation (necrosis of the organ that protrudes through the abdomen, creating the hernia).
Other symptoms include a feeling of heaviness in the area and severe pain that may occur even when urinating or defecating, but also when the patient is standing for a long time.
What are the causes of Abdominal Hernia?
An abdominal hernia usually occurs when the muscles of the abdominal wall are weak. The main causes of such a hernia are increased intra-abdominal pressure, genetic predisposition, obesity, heavy manual labor, chronic constipation, chronic and intense cough, multiple labors in women and abrupt changes in body weight.
Causes of abdominal hernia include injuries that may have been caused by a car accident or a sharp object in the abdomen.
How is Abdominal Hernia diagnosed?
Abdominal hernia can be easily detected by a specialized general surgeon in a clinical examination. If there is suspicion for other, coexisting disorders, then a CT or MRI scan should be performed.
It is important that the hernia, like any hernia, be treated immediately, as it will not disappear on its own, and over time it will only get worse, putting the patient’s life in danger.
What is the appropriate treatment for Abdominal Hernia?
Abdominal hernia and consequently all hernias can only be treated surgically. Conventional, open surgery can provide cure, but today other even safer and more effective methods are preferred, such as are laparoscopic and robotic surgery. These are innovative techniques, which have revolutionized the field of Medical Surgery.
They are minimally invasive and bloodless and ensure incomparable surgical precision and success. Recovery is faster, postoperative pain is minimized, while at the same time the possibility of adhesions and relapses is avoided. Finally, an excellent functional and cosmetic surgical outcome is ensured.
What should I know before and after surgery?
The operation is performed under general anesthesia and leaves no scars. The patient may return home the same day or the day after surgery.
Laparoscopy and robotic surgery are suitable for the vast majority of patients, with benefits such as less pain, faster recovery, a quick return to exercise and work, and zero complications. In addition, these techniques allow the treatment of 2-3 hernias at the same time in just one operating room.
