What is a Femoral Hernia?
The abdominal cavity contains intestines and other
structures. These are protected by the abdominal wall which
is made up of four layers. The inner layer is membrane.
The second layer is a wall made of muscle. A layer of fat
separates the muscle from the outer layer of skin.
Weak spots can develop in the layer of muscle resulting in the
contents of the abdomen, along with the inner layer, pushing
through the abdominal wall. This produces a lump which is
called a hernia.
A femoral hernia causes a lump down low in the groin. It
happens at the hole in the wall of the abdomen where the femoral
artery and vein pass from the abdomen into the leg.
What does this involve?
Femoral hernias are operated on through a cut in the groin
either directly over the lump or a little higher up. The
operation takes 45 - 60 minutes and is usually done under general
anaesthetic.
Your surgeon will remove the 'hernial sac' through the cut in
your groin and will then narrow the hole (femoral canal) through
which the contents of the abdomen passed using stitches or a
synthetic mesh. Your skin will be closed with
stitches.
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When will I recover?
You should be able to go home the same day and your will be
advised if you need to have any stitches or clip removed. You
should increase how much you walk around of the first few days
after the operation. You may need painkillers to help
you.
You should be able to return to work after two to four weeks
depending upon the extent of your surgery and your type of work
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What risks should I know about?
Hernia surgery is a commonly performed procedure although there
are some complications that you should be aware of:
- Developing a lump under the wound which is caused by a
collection of blood or fluid and normally settles over a few
weeks.
- Injury to structures within the hernia which come from the
abdomen. This is rare but may require further surgery.
- Difficulty passing urine which may mean you need a catheter
inserted into your bladder for a day or two.
- Temporary weakness of the leg due to the local anaesthetic
affecting the nerves that supply the thigh. This usually
settles after 24 hours.
- Injury to nerves that supply the skin around the groin which
can lead to a numb patch.
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Circle care
Hernia surgery is carried out at CircleBath, our state of the
art hospital, which provides you with the best facilities and
superb patient care. We have a dedicated team of surgeons and
nurses who will guide you through the process from first
consultation to after-care and will be available to answer any
questions or queries you may have.
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| Consultants |
Location |
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John Budd, Richard Krysztopik, Paul Maddox, Mahesh Pai, Richard Sutton, Mike Williamson
|
Bath
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Nicholas Armitage, Ian Beckingham, Richard I Hall, Roddy Nash, Mike Robinson, Julian Williams
|
Nottingham
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