A hernia is commonly defined as an outpouching of the peritoneal lining through a defect in the abdominal wall. Common sites of hernia are:
Hernias are quite common. The risk of having a hernia is a strangulation or bowel obstruction. These are surgical emergencies requiring urgent surgical intervention. The treatment for hernias is surgery.
Presently, most hernias can be repaired laparoscopically (key-hole surgery). Usually, a tension-free repair is performed to reduce recurrences. Tension-free repair is commonly achieved by placement of a mesh to repair the hernia. A mesh is a synthetic fabric that is fixed to the hernia defect.
