Hernia Surgery Specialist

What causes a hernia?

Hernias develop when organs or tissues in your abdomen push through a weak or torn muscle. This problem usually occurs gradually over years of pressure on your abdomen, but some factors increase your risk.

Frequent coughing, heavy lifting, being overweight, and straining during bowel movements contribute to muscle weakness. Age-related muscle degeneration and an abdominal wound or healed surgical incision also cause weak areas that make you more likely to develop a hernia.

Can I have different types of hernias? 

You may have one of several types of hernias:

Inguinal hernia

Inguinal hernias are common and occur in your inner groin.

Ventral hernias

Ventral hernias occur in the abdominal wall. There are several types, including umbilical, epigastric, Spigelian, and incisional hernias.

Hiatal hernia

A hiatal hernia develops when your stomach pushes up through the diaphragm and into your chest cavity.

What symptoms indicate I need hernia surgery?

Inguinal and ventral hernias usually produce a noticeable lump where they bulge through the muscle. They also cause pain ranging from mild to severe and debilitating. Hiatal hernias cause heartburn, chest pain, and shortness of breath.

All hernias can get trapped in the muscle and become strangulated. A strangulated hernia obstructs the affected organ (like your large intestine) and blocks blood flow. This causes sudden, severe pain and is a medical emergency that needs immediate treatment.

When do I need hernia surgery?

The only treatment for a hernia is surgery. Hernias don’t improve on their own, but if they’re small and don’t cause discomfort, you can put off treatment. When they become too painful or strangulated, you need surgery.

However, you don’t want to wait until you have an emergency due to severe pain or strangulation. Since hernias get worse over time, your doctor should monitor the progression of your hernia and help you decide when to have surgery to prevent an emergency.

What happens during hernia surgery?

When performing surgery for inguinal and ventral hernias, Dr. Madni puts the protruding abdominal tissues back in their normal location, implants surgical mesh, and repairs the muscle. Hernias tend to recur, so adding mesh strengthens the abdominal wall and lowers your risk of having another hernia in the same area.

If you have a hiatal hernia, Dr. Madni may tighten the opening in the diaphragm or perform a Nissen fundoplication. During this procedure, she creates a new valve at the top of the stomach to prevent acid reflux.

Dr. Madni repairs inguinal and hiatal hernias using minimally invasive techniques, choosing either traditional laparoscopy or robot-assisted surgery. If you have a ventral hernia, she recommends open surgery or robotic surgery, depending on which one is best for your unique situation.

When you need surgery to repair a painful hernia, don’t wait to schedule an appointment. Call the office or book online today.