When is the best season for hernia surgery?

Infants under one year old may be able to heal on their own, but babies over one year old or adults will not heal on their own, so surgical treatment is generally chosen because it is more effective and has a lower chance of recurrence. It is best to perform the surgery in spring and autumn when the temperature is neither too cold nor too hot, which helps protect the incision and help it recover.

Causes

The formation of hernia has a lot to do with the patient's physique. It is mostly due to coughing, sneezing, excessive force, abdominal fat, forceful defecation, pregnant women, excessive crying of children, degenerative changes in the strength of the abdominal wall in the elderly, etc., which produces negative pressure in the abdominal cavity, leading to increased air pressure in the abdominal cavity, forcing the free organs in the abdominal cavity, such as the small intestine, cecum, greater omentum, bladder, ovaries, fallopian tubes and other organs to enter another part through normal or abnormal weak points or defects or pores in the human body.

Clinical manifestations

The most common clinical hernia is the inguinal hernia. A lump can be seen or felt in the groin area, which can be recovered by lying down. Infants are usually discovered by their mothers when they are changing their diapers, while older children are more often discovered when they are taking a bath. The cause of the lump is increased abdominal pressure, such as crying, coughing, defecation, urination, etc. Older children can be asked to stand up and apply force to the abdomen, which can also induce a lump to appear in the groin area, and some will reach the scrotum or labia. The lump is formed by the prolapse of organs in the abdominal cavity into the hernia bag. The prolapsed organs are mostly small intestines, so they feel soft to the touch. Other parts such as the large intestine, appendix, and omentum may also prolapse. In women, ovarian prolapse is more common, so a thumb-sized, hard, and often tender lump can often be felt. In addition to being able to see or touch the lump, some children may experience constipation, loss of appetite, spitting up, etc., while others may be prone to crying and become restless.

treat

1. Non-surgical treatment

Children under one year old do not need surgery for the time being because the hernia may disappear on its own. A hernia belt can be used to compress the deep ring.

2. Surgery

If hernia is not treated promptly, the hernia mass may gradually increase in size, the symptoms may worsen, and even incarceration or strangulation may occur, threatening the patient's life. Therefore, surgical treatment should be performed as soon as possible.