Ventral Hernias
A ventral hernia is a type of hernia that results in a bulge in the abdomen. This type of hernia is very similar to the incisional hernia but lacks the presence of a prior surgical incision. They most often occur in the upper abdomen and can vary greatly in size. This type of hernia is considered a congenital development and so can present at all age groups.
Ventral hernias can become very large with time leading to the potential for bowel obstruction and even strangulation. Aside from these serious complications, they can be associated with digestive issues due to the tight compacting of intestines in the hernia sac.
Traditional techniques of repair typically require a lengthy procedure, drains to egress fluid from the surgical field and the insertion of mesh. In comparison, the Shouldice technique allows for a relatively quick procedure, often using sedation anesthesia with no drains piercing the abdomen and no mesh. In the case of massive ventral hernias, where excess tension would likely lead to a failure, the Modified Shouldice technique, in which a small segment of mesh is incorporated in the repair has yielded outstanding results. Most patients require only a few days before resuming unrestricted activities.
As a result of our outstanding success rate and rapid recovery, patients from as far as California, Texas, Alaska and most every state in between have chosen to have their hernias repaired at the Hernia Center of Ohio.
Umbilical Hernias
This type of hernia is due to a weakness in the fascia (lining) at the umbilicus (bellybutton). Frequently seen after birth, many of these hernias close on their own by age five, but some can persist into adulthood. In most cases there are no symptoms with an umbilical hernia until tissue gets caught in the defect. Unfortunately, if this tissue is a segment of the intestines, it can go on to strangulate and perforate.
Surgical repair is recommended for umbilical hernias because, as with most hernias, the longer you wait the larger the hernia becomes. Our unique repair utilizes a small incision in the umbilicus through which the repair is performed. On occasion when encountering a large defect, reinforcement with a very small piece of mesh is highly recommended. The umbilicus is reattached to the abdominal wall thereby hiding the incision. Hence our procedure is often referred to as “invisible surgery” since no incision can be seen. The entire surgical procedure takes less than 15 minutes and is done with a sedation anesthesia. Most patients resume unrestricted activity 48 hours following the procedure.
If you have an umbilical or ventral hernia, contact the Hernia Center of Ohio for more information.
