Puget Sound Surgical Center - Hernia Surgery - Seattle Weight Loss Surgery and Bariatric Experts


	Hernia Surgery A hernia is a protrusion of a tissue, structure, or part of an organ through the muscular tissue or the membrane by which it is normally contained (definition from MeSH). The hernia has 3 parts: the orifice through which it herniates, the hernial sac, and its contents. When the opening (hiatus) in the muscle between the abdomen and chest (diaphragm) is too large, some of the stomach can slip up into the chest cavity. This can cause heartburn (gastro-esophageal reflux: GER) as gastric acid backflows from the stomach into the esophagus. Hiatal hernia repair is surgery to repair a bulging of stomach tissue through the muscle between the abdomen and chest (diaphragm) into the chest (hiatal hernia). Hiatal hernia repair may be recommended when the patient has: severe heartburn severe inflammation of the esophagus from the backflow of gastric fluid (reflux) narrowing of the opening (hiatus) through the diaphragm (esophageal stricture) chronic inflammation of the lungs (pneumonia) from frequent breathing in (aspiration) of gastric fluids It is generally advisable to repair hernias in a timely fashion, in order to prevent complications such as organ dysfunction, gangrene, and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. Most abdominal hernias can be surgically repaired, and recovery rarely requires long-term changes in lifestyle. Uncomplicated hernias are principally repaired by pushing back, or "reducing", the herniated tissue, and then mending the weakness in muscle tissue (an operation called herniorraphy). If complications have occurred, the surgeon will check the viability of the herniated organ, and resect it if necessary. Modern muscle reinforcement techniques involve synthetic materials (a mesh prosthesis) that avoid over-stretching of already weakened tissue (as in older, but still useful methods). The mesh is placed over the defect, and sometimes staples are used to keep the mesh in place. Increasingly, some repairs are performed through laparoscopes. Patients are managed through surgical daycare centers, and are able to return to work within a week or two, while heavy activities are prohibited for a longer period.

A hernia is a protrusion of a tissue, structure, or part of an organ through the muscular tissue or the membrane by which it is normally contained (definition from MeSH). The hernia has 3 parts: the orifice through which it herniates, the hernial sac, and its contents.

When the opening (hiatus) in the muscle between the abdomen and chest (diaphragm) is too large, some of the stomach can slip up into the chest cavity. This can cause heartburn (gastro-esophageal reflux: GER) as gastric acid backflows from the stomach into the esophagus. Hiatal hernia repair is surgery to repair a bulging of stomach tissue through the muscle between the abdomen and chest (diaphragm) into the chest (hiatal hernia).

Hiatal hernia repair may be recommended when the patient has:

severe heartburn
severe inflammation of the esophagus from the backflow of gastric fluid (reflux)
narrowing of the opening (hiatus) through the diaphragm (esophageal stricture)
chronic inflammation of the lungs (pneumonia) from frequent breathing in (aspiration) of gastric fluids

It is generally advisable to repair hernias in a timely fashion, in order to prevent complications such as organ dysfunction, gangrene, and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. Most abdominal hernias can be surgically repaired, and recovery rarely requires long-term changes in lifestyle. Uncomplicated hernias are principally repaired by pushing back, or "reducing", the herniated tissue, and then mending the weakness in muscle tissue (an operation called herniorraphy). If complications have occurred, the surgeon will check the viability of the herniated organ, and resect it if necessary. Modern muscle reinforcement techniques involve synthetic materials (a mesh prosthesis) that avoid over-stretching of already weakened tissue (as in older, but still useful methods). The mesh is placed over the defect, and sometimes staples are used to keep the mesh in place. Increasingly, some repairs are performed through laparoscopes.

Patients are managed through surgical daycare centers, and are able to return to work within a week or two, while heavy activities are prohibited for a longer period.