Hernia

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Original Editors -

Top Contributors - Lucinda hampton, Kim Jackson, Admin, Nehal Shah, WikiSysop and Claire Knott  

Introduction

A hernia occurs when an organ or fatty tissue squeezes through a weak spot in a surrounding muscle or connective tissue called fascia.

The most common types of hernia are:

• Inguinal (inner groin) see R image
• Incisional (resulting from an incision)
• Femoral (outer groin)
• 
  Umbilical (belly button) see image R second down.
• Hiatal (upper stomach).
  

Causes

All hernias are caused by a combination of pressure and an opening/weakness of muscle or fascia; the pressure pushes an organ or tissue through the opening or weak spot. Sometimes the muscle weakness is present at birth; more often, it occurs later in life.

Anything that causes an increase in pressure in the abdomen can cause a hernia, including:

• Lifting heavy objects without stabilizing the abdominal muscles
• Diarrhea or constipation
• Persistent coughing or sneezing
• Obesity, poor nutrition, and smoking (all weaken muscles and make hernias more likely).

Types

1. Inguinal hernia - the intestine or the bladder protrudes through the abdominal wall or into the inguinal canal in the groin.

• About 96% of all groin hernias are inguinal, and most occur in men because of a natural weakness in this area.

2. Incisional hernia - the intestine pushes through the abdominal wall at the site of previous abdominal surgery.

• This type is most common in elderly or overweight people who are inactive after abdominal surgery.

3. Femoral hernia - occurs when the intestine enters the canal carrying the femoral artery into the upper thigh.

• Femoral hernias are most common in women, especially those who are pregnant or obese.

4. Umbilical hernia - part of the small intestine passes through the abdominal wall near the navel.

• Common in newborns, it also commonly afflicts obese women or those who have had many children.

5. Hiatal hernia - upper stomach squeezes through the hiatus, an opening in the diaphragm through which the esophagus passes.

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