Saturday, 27 August 2016

For Specialists In Ventral Hernias Houston Is The Way To Go

By Gary Scott


A ventral hernia refers to a protrusion occurring in the abdomen through an opening or weak spot within the abdominal tissue or organ. This condition can be identified by the presence of a bulge in the belly region. Generally, a hernia can occur in any part of the body and the naming is done according to the part of the body where it has occurred. When in need of treatment for ventral hernias Houston is the right place to check out.

Several types of ventral hernia exist. They include incisional hernia, inguinal hernia, and umbilical hernia. The most common of them is incisional hernia. It occurs in the belly in places of weakness due to surgical procedures. Surgeries weaken skin, muscles, and tissues around the belly, predisposing patients to the disease. The annual number of Americans who undergo repair for ventral hernia has been found to exceed 900000.

Certain factors predispose people to this hernia. Among these factors are obesity, pregnancy, constant heavy lifting, injuries to the bowel, and family history of hernias. There is also a congenital defect that makes walls of the abdomen to be thin from birth in some people. Such thin walls increase the chances of the disease in people with the defect.

The development of the condition takes long. It may need several months or years after one has undergone surgery for the condition to develop. Telling whether one will have the condition after they undergo surgery is often hard. However, if one starts to lift heavy objects too soon after surgery, the probability of suffering from the problem increases. Thus, taking some time off from strenuous tasks to allow proper recovery from surgery is advised.

There are several symptoms that can indicate the presence of this hernia. While some patients may have severe abdominal pains, others experience no symptoms at all. The amount of time symptoms take to manifest vary a lot, ranging from weeks to months. Some commonly experienced symptoms include bulging of the abdominal area, vomiting, pain in the abdomen, mild discomfort in abdomen, and nausea. Standing up or lifting heavy objects may make the pain worse.

Diagnosis of this condition is done by observing the symptoms one is experiencing. Doctors obtain a history of symptoms and conduct a physical examination. Certain diagnostic tests may need to be conducted to confirm the presence of the hernia. Some key diagnostic tests performed include ultrasound, computerized tomography scan, and magnetic resonance imaging.

This form of hernia does not heal on its own without surgical intervention. Mild versions of the condition can be treated by pushing back the protruding tissues. The hernia cavity will however not heal naturally. To avoid the risk of strangulation of the intestine, the hernia needs to be repaired through surgery.

Intestines are said to be strangulated if blood supply to them is blocked. As a result of lack of blood supply, the intestines start to decay if no surgical intervention is given soon. Strangulation is usually treated as a medical emergency.




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