What Is Inguinal Hernia?

Do you know what inguinal hernia is?

In general, a hernia is a bulge that can be found in either the abdomen or groin. It occurs when there is a weak area or a hole in the abdominal wall muscles.

Usually a hernia is a consequence of a problem with the body’s tissue types and it manifests itself in the form of a bulge. It is known as an “inguinal hernia” when it is formed at the end of an intestinal loop – Jejunum or ileum – through the entrance canal.

Inguinal hernia can be congenital or occur later. For example, if a young child experiences this type of hernia, it is usually congenital. If it occurs in an adult, however, it has usually occurred later.

Congenital hernias occur in up to 30% of newborns and constitute a surgical emergency. In these cases, they are usually found in relation to an anomaly in the uterus.

When a hernia returns it is in 50% of cases due to an infection.

Later hernias usually affect adults. In most cases, they are usually the result of increased pressure from inside the abdomen due to :

• Pregnancy
• Work that requires heavy lifting or tightening of the abdominal muscles
• Diseases such as COPD
• Prostatism (urination problems)

In addition, a hernia may be encapsulated or not encapsulated.

• Non-encapsulated hernias look like a mass that either appears or increases in size as you exert yourself. Coughing or standing will therefore make it bigger, while it shrinks when you lie down.

• When a hernia is encapsulated, it will neither grow nor shrink.

Why does a hernia occur in this area?

All types of hernia are found in areas with “anatomical weakness”. This means all areas where your anatomical walls are weakest. This is what happens to the anterior abdominal wall, which is much weaker than the posterior wall.

Studies on groin hernia

• These are among the most common surgical diseases. It is estimated that 1 in 30 people will suffer from it at some point in life.
• Hernia surgery accounts for 15% of all general surgeries. This makes it the most performed operation in the world.
• Groin and thigh hernias are the two most common types of hernia. Inguinal hernia tends to affect men, while femoral hernia is more typical of women. Hernia is the second most common cause of constipation of mechanical origin.

• Repetition is also relatively common. In half of the cases it is related to an infection.

Classification of inguinal hernia

An inguinal hernia is classified based on the relationship between the intestines and where it moves through the inguinal canal. They are classified as:

Direct groin hernia

Seen and felt towards the center above the groin band, around the Hesselbach triangle.

The hernia can reach down to the epigastric artery and will not pass through the deep opening to the inguinal canal. It lies behind the cremaster muscle, but is not involved with its fibers.

This type of hernia is common in older people.

Indirect hernia

This is the most common type of hernia, both in men and women. In this type of hernia, the peritoneum penetrates the inguinal canal. In this situation, the intestinal loop is lateral to the epigastric artery and the Hesselbach ligament. It follows the structure up towards the inner lingual ring. In some men, the bowel loop may occur in a testicle, which is called a hernia .

Symptoms

Inguinal hernia usually produces mild symptoms. In most cases, the patient wakes up and feels completely fine. During the day, they begin to notice discomfort when exercising, coughing, etc. However, many patients can reduce their hernia on their own.

Complications

Squeezed: in these cases a hernia is “caught”. It cannot be reduced manually, but there is no vascular compromise. The intestinal loop is properly irrigated.
Strangulation: In this case, the hernia is trapped in the hernia opening. Then the tissue can die and rupture, so that the intestinal contents come out. This is a surgical emergency.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is made by a simple physical examination, together with the patient’s clinical history. In many situations, the patient actually arrives, knowing that they have a hernia. Nevertheless, it is important that all patients with abdominal pain are thoroughly examined.

In light of the various diagnoses, it is important to perform examination along with tests for other causes of acute abdominal pain.

Treatment

Objectives of the treatment

Surgical surgery of hernia is based on:

• To return the intestinal loop to the abdominal cavity, without opening the peritoneum if possible.
• Identification of hernia edges.
• Closing the hole that caused the hernia.

Surgical treatment

Surgical treatment for an inguinal hernia can be performed either by open surgery or peephole surgery.