What is an Incisional 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.
An incisional hernia is a weakness in the abdominal wall which
happens at the site of an incision made during a previous
operation.
What does this involve?
Incisional hernias can be repaired using the laparoscopic
(keyhole) technique or by an open cut at the site of your
hernia.
If your surgeon has recommended an open procedure then the
operation takes about 90 minutes and is usually done under general
anaesthetic.
Your surgeon will make a cut through your old scar to find out
the extent of the weakness. They will then repair the weak
tissue either with stitches or using a synthetic mesh under the
skin. Your surgeon will close the skin open the repair and
insert a tube to drain any blood. This will be removed after
a day or two.
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When will I recover?
You should be able to go home one to four days after the
operation 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.
- Skin necrosis which is where some of the skin over your hernia
dies because the blood supply is not good enough. You may
need some further surgery to correct this.
- 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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