The repair of hernias and other reasons to need a general surgeon
By Lonnie Imlay, MD, Colorado Springs Health Partners, Colorado Springs LIVING WELL Magazine
Most men are probably used to the routine at the doctor’s office – take a deep breath and cough –the standard check for a hernia. Although people of all ages can get hernias, men are more likely to develop them than women.
A hernia is a gap or weakness in the wall of muscle or tissue that hold organs in place. The opening can allow part of the organ to come through the hole, much like an inner tube poking through an old tire. Hernias can be hereditary or due to increased pressure on the abdominal wall tissue and typically occur in the abdomen, upper thigh or groin area, or at the site of a surgery incision.
To help prevent hernias caused by unusual pressure on the abdomen, not hereditary, a person can:
- Use proper lifting techniques
- If overweight, losing weight
- Avoid constipation by getting plenty of fiber and fluids
- Use the bathroom when the urge occurs
- If male, seeing the doctor for strain during urination, which may be related to the prostate
A physician can discover a hernia through a physical exam and may have blood work and a urinalysis done for certain types of hernias; for smaller children or infants, an ultrasound may be necessary as the hernia may not be obvious. Sometimes, additional testing such as a CT scan is requested. People may experience pain, pressure or nausea at the site of the hernia, but there are often no symptoms with smaller hernias.
If a hernia is small, it can be pushed back into place with gentle pressure and observed over time, with no treatment needed. For larger hernias, surgery by a general surgeon is the recommended treatment. Hernia surgery is very successful, there is only a 1-3% chance that the hernia will recur. There are two options for hernia repair surgery:
- Open repair: an incision is made at the site of the hernia and it is repaired with mesh or in rare instances, sutures. In the case of emergency surgery, an open repair may be required.
- Laparoscopic repair: small incisions are made in the abdomen and a camera is used to place mesh or sutures to repair the hernia. Laparoscopic repair usually allows for a faster recovery and is less painful for the patient.
Hernia repair is often done in an outpatient surgery setting, meaning that, unless there are complications, most patients go home the same day. Patients receive general anesthesia and are asked to watch for infection while they are recovering.
For general surgeons, who are trained in a broad range of diseases that often require surgical treatment, hernia repair is a routine part of their practice. General surgeons get extensive training in the technical aspects of surgeries, as well as everything from the clinical evaluation to infection risks for a variety of system functions including:
- Abdomen
- Breast, skin and soft tissue
- Digestive tract
- Endocrine
- Organ transplantation
- Pediatric surgery
- Surgical critical care
- Surgical oncology
- Trauma, burns and acute care surgery
- Vascular surgery
Due to the increased specialization in medicine, surgeons can go on to get additional training in the above areas. In addition to hernia repair noted above, patients will see a general surgeon for conditions like appendicitis, bariatrics, gall bladder, gland conditions, some gynecological issues, and others. Many of us won’t become familiar with the expertise of a general surgeon until needing one. For more information, visit www.absurgery.com, or www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus.
Lonnie Imlay, MD is a general surgeon practicing with Colorado Springs Health Partners, PC after serving in the US Army. Dr. Imlay has a wide variety of experience and a large scope of practice, including all aspects of general surgery and specifically bariatrics. He can be reached at info@cshp.net.
