A hernia is when an internal organ is dislocated from its normal anatomical position, through a congenital or acquired opening. Hernias most commonly affect the abdominal wall, this is because the abdominal wall is made up of superimposed muscle flaps and weakness in these muscles, combined with increased pressure within the abdomen, can contribute to the protrusion of abdominal organs, hernia formation.
In such cases, the thin part of the large intestine or the fat covering the abdominal cavity usually protrudes. The hernia is not life-threatening in itself, but it cannot go away on its own, which is why it is worth opting for surgery as soon as possible to avoid further complications. The vast majority of abdominal hernias are inguinal hernias, while other hernias include umbilical hernias, hernias around the navel, hernias resulting from previous surgery, and hernias of the groin and pelvic area. It can also be partly genetic, being more common in some families, but there are also predisposing conditions such as obesity, smoking and pregnancy. Umbilical hernias occur in or around the navel, and surgery is the definitive treatment. There are several different surgical options for the treatment of umbilical hernia.
In Spitzy shelf operation, the skin belly button is retained, a semicircular incision is made, and the hernia gate is closed after the hernia sac has been treated. In the case of larger umbilical hernias, a Mayo operation is used, in which the skin bundle is removed along with the hernia to ensure a secure closure of the abdominal wall. The technique consists of placing a tissue-friendly, partially absorbable mesh over the hernia cap instead of suturing the edges of the opening to avoid tension caused by the suture.
The development of a hernia may be accompanied by shooting, pulling, straining, dull pain, together with a small to large bulging of the affected area. There are also cases where the hernia is painless. The size of the bump may vary and may become worse with more intense movement. The hernia contents can usually be reinserted into the abdominal cavity through the hernia gate. However, without treatment, there is a risk of hernia exclusion.
If the hernia contents cannot return to the abdominal cavity, the blood supply to the blocked section of the intestine may be compromised, creating an emergency with the risk of life-threatening intestinal necrosis, which can only be treated by urgent acute surgery.
Hernia exclusion may be accompanied by severe abdominal, abdominal, abdominal pain, cramps, nausea, vomiting. To avoid this serious condition, it is also recommended to undergo hernia removal surgery as soon as possible.
The surgery is performed under general anaesthesia to avoid the discomfort of the operation. In open hernia surgery, the surgeon makes an incision a few centimetres along the line of the damaged area, opening the skin, subcutaneous tissue and abdominal wall. Once the hernia is reached, the hernia contents are removed from the hernia sac and then reinserted into the abdominal cavity.
The surgeon then removes the excess tissue and covers it with direct sutures or by implanting a plastic, partially absorbable mesh. The procedure may vary from person to person, depending on the size and severity of the hernia.
The definitive solution for hernias is surgery. The most ideal choice is determined by the size of the hernia and individual factors such as tissue size and abdominal circumference.
There are alternatives to open hernia surgery, such as laparoscopic surgery. Laparoscopy is a branch of endoscopy in which surgery is performed in the abdominal cavity. A laparoscope is a thin tube with a camera at the end, so that an image can be followed through an optical device inside the body.
A series of small incisions (1-1.5 cm / 0.3-0.5 inches) are made through which the laparoscope and surgical instruments are inserted to perform each step of the operation. The operation is made easier by inflating the abdominal cavity with carbon dioxide gas during hernia surgery to facilitate easier access and successful surgery.
Because there is no abdominal wall separation during laparoscopic hernia surgery, there is less post-operative pain, fewer abdominal wall infections and shorter hospital stays, and the abdominal wall strengthens sooner. There is also a slightly lower recurrence rate.
The day after surgery, the patient can return home, but physical rest is important for a few weeks, followed by gradual exercise and a balanced lifestyle to ensure a speedy recovery, which should allow the patient to return to a normal lifestyle after 1-2 weeks. The skin wound will take 7-10 days to heal, and the stitches will be removed.
Complete relief from symptoms is expected in about 4 weeks, by which time you will be able to play more active sports.
Our surgical prices are indicative, we always give customized price!
Dr. Dániel Czeller
general surgeon specialist
Hungarian, English
Doctors Hungarian, English language
18+
Patients 18+ from ages and up
Dr. Tamás Hidas
general surgeon specialist
Hungarian, English, German
Doctors Hungarian, English, German language
15+
Patients 15+ from ages and up
