Inguinal Hernia Surgery in Peoria

What is an inguinal hernia?

A hernia occurs when tissues from inside your abdomen, like fat or a part of your intestine, bulge through an opening or weak spot in the abdominal wall. Inguinal canals are internal passages located on either side of your lower abdomen or groin. An inguinal hernia develops at the inguinal canal in the groin.

There are two types of inguinal hernias: indirect, which are present at birth, and direct, which develop in adulthood due to a weakness in abdominal muscles. Direct inguinal hernias are most common in adult men, but women can also develop this condition.

What are the signs and symptoms of an inguinal hernia?

The most prominent sign of an inguinal hernia is a small bulge on one side of the groin. Rarely, inguinal hernias may affect both sides of the groin at the same time. The inguinal canal is located just above the groin crease between your thigh and lower abdomen.

The hernia may cause pain or discomfort in the groin, especially while straining, coughing, or heavy lifting. Men and boys may also have a swollen scrotum.

What complications can occur with an inguinal hernia?

If the hernia is small and doesn’t cause pain or symptoms, your doctor may recommend watchful waiting. However, a hernia will never go away on its own and avoiding surgery may increase your risk of complications, such as:

Incarceration

Incarceration occurs when the tissue inside the hernia gets stuck and won’t go back into the abdomen.

Strangulation

If an incarcerated hernia doesn’t receive prompt treatment, it can become strangulated. This means the blood supply to the intestine gets cut off. Strangulation is a medical emergency that requires immediate surgical treatment.

How is an inguinal hernia treated?

Surgery is the only way to treat an inguinal hernia and prevent complications. Your CMIRS surgeon carefully reviews your medical history and performs a physical exam before recommending the best hernia repair procedure for you.

The team at the Center for Minimally Invasive and Robotic Surgery uses minimally invasive techniques, including laparoscopic and robotic surgery, whenever possible. These procedures use much smaller incisions than open surgery, which means less pain and a faster and easier recovery for you.

Open surgery may be necessary in some cases, like if the hernia is incarcerated or strangulated.

For expert care of inguinal hernias, call the Center for Minimally Invasive and Robotic Surgery or schedule a consultation online today.