Consumer Information

Ventral Hernia

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

A ventral hernia is a bulge through the wall of your abdomen (stomach). The bulge may be caused by tissue, fat, or an organ such as your bowels. Three common types of abdomen 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 it after having surgery on your abdomen. 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 with age and weighing more than your caregiver advises. Certain medical conditions such as diabetes, lung disease, and cancer may also increase your risk. With a ventral hernia, you may have bulging, swelling, or pain in your abdomen. You may have trouble urinating or having a bowel movement. Surgery may help prevent your hernia from getting bigger and your bowel from getting tangled. You may be in less pain. Your stomach may not have bulging and you may feel better about your appearance. You may return to work and your other normal daily activities faster than without surgery.

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your care. To help with this plan, you must learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. You can then discuss treatment options with your caregivers. Work with them to decide what care may be used to treat you. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

RISKS:

Surgery may cause a pocket of fluid called a seroma to form near your abdominal wall. You may have long-term pain in the area where the surgery was done. 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.
You may get a hernia again and need another surgery. Without surgery, 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. You may bleed inside your abdomen. Your blood may become infected and you may die. Ask your caregiver if you have questions about your condition, treatment, or care.

WHILE YOU ARE HERE:

Informed consent: You have the right to understand your health condition in words that you know. You should be told what tests, treatments, or procedures may be done to treat your condition. Your doctor should also tell you about the risks and benefits of each treatment. You may be asked to sign a consent form that gives caregivers permission to do certain tests, treatments, or procedures. If you are unable to give your consent, someone who has permission can sign this form for you. A consent form is a legal piece of paper that tells exactly what will be done to you. Before giving your consent, make sure all your questions have been answered so that you understand what may happen.

IV: An IV is a tube placed in your vein for giving medicine or liquids. This tube is capped or connected to tubing and liquid.

Medicines:

General anesthesia: This is medicine that may be given in your IV or as a gas that you breathe. You may wear a face mask or have a tube placed in your mouth and throat. This tube is called an endotracheal tube or ET tube. Usually you are asleep before caregivers put the tube into your throat. The ET tube is usually removed before you wake up. You are completely asleep and free from pain during surgery.
Local or monitored anesthesia: This is a shot of numbing medicine put into the skin where you will have surgery. You may still feel pressure or pushing during surgery but you should not have pain. With local anesthesia, you will be fully awake during the procedure. With monitored anesthesia care, you will also be given medicine through an IV. This medicine keeps you comfortable, relaxed, and drowsy during the procedure.
Antibiotics: Antibiotics may be given to help treat or prevent an infection caused by germs called bacteria.

Drains: These are thin rubber tubes put into your skin to drain fluid from around your incision. The drains are taken out when the incision stops draining.

Nasogastric (NG) tube: A nasogastric tube is put into your nose and down into your stomach. The tube may be attached to suction (vacuum) to keep your stomach empty. You may need a NG tube if your stomach gets too full or if you throw up a lot after surgery. You may also need it if you cannot use your mouth to eat. An NG tube may also be used to help get your bowels working. Food or medicine may be given through your NG tube.

Tests:

Abdominal ultrasound: An abdominal ultrasound is a test that is done to see inside your abdomen. Sound waves are used to show pictures of your abdomen on a TV-like screen.
Computed tomography (CT) scan: This is also called a CAT scan. A special x-ray machine uses a computer to take pictures of your abdomen. A CT scan may help your caregiver confirm that you have a ventral hernia. He may also see the size of your hernia and what is inside of it. You may be given dye before the pictures are taken. The dye may help your caregiver see the pictures better. People who are allergic to shellfish (lobster, crab, or shrimp) may be allergic to some dyes. Tell your caregiver if you are allergic to shellfish or have any other allergies.
Laparoscopy: Your caregiver may do a laparoscopic surgery to look for problems in your abdomen. This is a procedure to look inside your abdomen. If your caregiver finds a hernia, then he may then use laparoscopy to do your surgery. A special scope is put into your abdomen through a small cut. A scope is a long, bendable tube with a camera on its end. You may have one or more cuts near your belly button. Ask your caregiver for more information about laparoscopy.

Treatment:

A ventral hernia is treated with surgery. Your caregiver may choose open or laparoscopic surgery. During laparoscopic surgery, your caregiver makes small cuts on your abdomen and uses a laparoscope to fix your hernia. During an open surgery, your caregiver 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 what is inside the tissue, such as extra fat, tissue, or skin. Your caregiver will then stitch the muscles and abdomen wall. Your caregiver may also cover the hole by cutting and spreading your muscles.
Your caregiver may use mesh to help support your 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. If you do not have enough tissue, your caregiver may use a skin flap. A skin flap is tissue or muscle taken from nearby areas to help repair a large hernia. 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 decrease any extra fluids.

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.

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