
When Does a Hernia Require Surgery? Key Factors to Consider
Your muscles form a firm wall to hold the organs in place. When those muscles become weak, a portion of the organs and other contents, like fatty tissues, might protrude through the weak muscle wall, which is called a hernia. Though they can develop anywhere in your body, they are more commonly seen to appear in the abdominal and groin areas.
The size and severity of hernias vary greatly. Whether a hernia is small or big, it requires treatment because it doesn’t go away on its own. And the most frequently asked question by patients is: When do I need hernia surgery?
Before we get into the specifics of surgical requirements, let us quickly understand the different types of hernias:
- Inguinal Hernia
- Incisional Hernia
- Femoral Hernia
- Umbilical Hernia
- Hiatal Hernia
- Diaphragmatic Hernia
A diaphragmatic hernia is a birth defect in which a hole forms in the diaphragm, allowing abdominal contents to enter the chest cavity. Surgery is the usual treatment.
When you have a hernia, it’s not easy to decide whether to undergo surgery or delay it. Researching and knowing a few key factors about your condition might make you feel confident about the choice you’re going to make. Consulting a hernia specialist is a good move to make an informed decision.
When Does a Hernia Require Surgery?
Though small hernias that don’t affect your quality of life might not require immediate treatment, over time almost all hernias should be repaired to prevent future symptoms and severe complications.
One of the main reasons to consider a hernia surgery is to prevent serious complications like an intestinal organ or tissue getting trapped, which is called “incarceration,” and over time it may lead to “strangulation.”
Here are some key factors that can help in determining whether a hernia requires surgery:
- Continuous pain and discomfort along with tenderness near the hernia, especially while performing daily physical activities.
- If the hernia is large or growing larger, surgery may be the only way to repair it.
- Sometimes, when you push the hernia bulge, it goes back into its place. However, if the contents stay out permanently, it indicates a potential complication that requires surgical intervention.
- This is a severe complication in which a hernia becomes trapped (incarcerated), which makes it hard to reposition; it also results in bowel obstruction.
- The next stage of incarceration is strangulation. As the incarcerated hernia can’t be repositioned, the organs or tissues trapped in the cavity lose their blood supply, which is called strangulation. It is a medical emergency that requires immediate surgical intervention.
- In certain cases, hernia obstructs bowel movements and causes nausea or vomiting.
- As the severity of the hernia increases, it may interfere with your daily activities. In such cases, surgery is a viable treatment option to restore quality of life.
- Considering your overall health, such as your medical condition or health history, surgery is essential, especially if the hernia poses life-threatening complications.
- Inguinal, femoral, and umbilical hernias are major types of hernias which can lead to severe complications. So most of the time, these types of hernias require surgery as soon as possible.
- In non-emergency cases, doctors suggest non-surgical treatments like wearing a truss or binder and modifying daily activities to alleviate symptoms. However, if these treatments are ineffective, surgery is the only option.
Performing surgery is also too risky if the patient is treated for cancer or has any other major health problems. Undergoing a hernia surgery might be a good option in most cases. So the thing is, every hernia case is different, and it is important to get an accurate diagnosis of your condition so that you can make the right choice regarding treatment.
Can I delay having a hernia surgery?
Yes, in some cases, surgery can be delayed. If you consult a hernia specialist, after a complete diagnosis, he will decide whether it is safe to delay and how long you can delay the surgery.
Here are some key factors when you can postpone having a hernia surgery.
- If the hernia is fairly small and asymptomatic.
- Small and stable hernia
- If you experience mild symptoms which are manageable with medication
- Possess lower risk of complications
- If you are on any medication that affects the surgery.
- Recovering from prior surgeries
- Having any major infection that could infect the mesh used to reinforce the hernia.
- Minimal or no interference in your daily activities
- Other health conditions that make surgery risky
- Pregnancy
- Professional reasons until unless the hernia doesn’t pose immediate health risks.
Dr. Venugopal Pareek, one of the best hernia surgeons in Hyderabad, is focused on offering innovative and safe laparoscopic hernia surgeries for all his patients. He has a team of board-certified hernia surgeons who are prepared to perform any kind of hernia surgery and are dedicated to providing compassionate, high-quality, personalized care for each patient they treat.
For Dr. V Pareek’s appointments, call us at +91 91777 77715 and book your slot.