Ventral Hernia

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• A ventral hernia is a bulge through a hole in the wall of your abdomen muscles. The bulge may be caused by tissue, fat, or an organ such as your bowels. Three common types of ventral hernias are incisional, epigastric, and spigelian. You may have an incisional hernia in places where you have had a surgical cut. An epigastric hernia occurs above your bellybutton, and a spigelian hernia occurs on the side of your abdomen. You may get a ventral hernia when the muscles of your abdomen become weak. You may be born with muscle weakness or you may get muscle weakness after having abdomen surgery. Other common causes of muscle weakness include straining, such as when you lift heavy things or during pregnancy.
  
  
• Your risk for a ventral hernia increases as you get older. You may also have a higher risk if you weight more than your caregiver suggests. Medical conditions such as diabetes, lung disease, and cancer may also increase your risk. With a ventral hernia, you may have bulging, swelling, and pain in your abdomen. With treatment, your hernia may no longer bulge through your abdomen muscles. It may be easier for you to have a bowel movement and urinate. Treatment may decrease your pain. It may also help prevent your hernia from getting bigger and your bowel from getting twisted.

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your caregivers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

RISKS:

• If you had surgery, you may have long-term pain or get a seroma. A seroma is a pocket of fluid that may need to be removed using a needle. During surgery, your bowel and nearby organs may be injured and you may get an infection. Scars may form inside your body, causing tissue or organs to stick together. Your bowel may become blocked and you may be unable to have a bowel movement. Blood vessels may be cut during surgery, causing you to bleed too much. You may get a serious infection in your blood. You may get an abnormal opening from your bowel to your skin.
  
  
• Your abdomen may swell if your caregiver pushed your hernia back into your abdomen. Your bowel may also get damaged. With treatment, you may get a hernia again and need another surgery. Without treatment, your hernia may become bigger or infected. It may change your posture and make your body stoop over. Your pain may get worse. Part of your bowel may become trapped or twisted and become blocked. You may bleed inside your abdomen. Your blood may become infected and you may die. Ask your caregiver if you have questions about your hernia, treatment, or care.

WHILE YOU ARE HERE:

Informed consent:

A consent form is a legal document that explains the tests, treatments, or procedures that you may need. Informed consent means you understand what will be done and can make decisions about what you want. You give your permission when you sign the consent form. You can have someone sign this form for you if you are not able to sign it. You have the right to understand your medical care in words you know. Before you sign the consent form, understand the risks and benefits of what will be done. Make sure all your questions are answered.

IV:

An IV (intravenous) is a small tube placed in your vein that is used to give you medicine or liquids.

Medicines:

• Antibiotics: This medicine is given to help treat or prevent an infection caused by bacteria.
  
  
• Pain medicine: Caregivers may give you medicine to take away or decrease your pain.
  
  
  • Do not wait until the pain is severe to ask for your medicine. Tell caregivers if your pain does not decrease. The medicine may not work as well at controlling your pain if you wait too long to take it.
    
    
  • Pain medicine can make you dizzy or sleepy. Prevent falls by calling a caregiver when you want to get out of bed or if you need help.

Treatment:

Your caregiver may be able to push your hernia back into your abdomen without surgery. You may also need surgery to treat your hernia.

• If you have surgery, your caregiver may choose an open or laparoscopic technique. During laparoscopic surgery, small cuts are made on your abdomen. Your caregiver then puts a scope and tools through these cuts and fixes your hernia. If your caregiver uses open surgery, he will cut open your abdomen to fix your hernia. Your caregiver will find your hernia and cut open the tissue surrounding it. He may remove extra fat or tissue. Your caregiver will then stitch up your muscles and abdomen wall. Your caregiver may loosen and spread your muscles to cover the hole surrounding your hernia.
  
  
• Your caregiver may use mesh to help support the wall of your abdomen. Mesh may be made of man-made or natural material. Mesh may be placed in front of, on, or inside the lining of your abdomen. Your caregiver may cover the hole from a large hernia with a skin flap. A skin flap is tissue or muscle taken from nearby areas of your body, such as your chest. If you have a stoma, your caregiver may need to close it and make a new one. Before your caregiver stitches you up, he may put in a drain to remove extra fluid.

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

Learn more about Ventral Hernia (Inpatient Care)