Emporia, VA (October 27, 2011) - An inguinal hernia is a condition that occurs when fatty abdominal tissue or a part of the small intestine pushes through a weak area in the lower abdominal wall or groin muscle usually between the abdomen and thigh. Hernias can develop instantly or over a long period of time and almost always require surgical intervention. Because inguinal hernias can lead to serious complications, it is important to recognize the signs of symptoms and seek immediate medical care.
Most inguinal hernias occur because of a congenital defect in the groin muscle that allows tissue within the abdominal cavity to be pushed through causing a bulge on one or both sides of the groin. Other contributing factors include: family history, chronic cough, obesity and heavy lifting or physical labor. In addition, men are ten times more likely than women to develop an inguinal hernia.
The most common symptom of an inguinal hernia is a bulge in the groin or scrotum. Symptoms of an inguinal hernia include pain and swelling or a feeling of heaviness or burning in the groin area, which sometimes improve when one is lying down. If sudden nausea and vomiting occur, it may be a sign of a strangulated hernia which is a much more serious condition that occurs when part of the intestine becomes trapped in the hernia and can cause complications including intestinal obstruction, gangrene or death. A detailed history of symptoms and physical examination by a physician is usually all that is needed to diagnose and inguinal hernia.
The only treatment for an inguinal hernia is surgical intervention. It is a popular misconception that something is actually removed to remedy an inguinal hernia, when in fact the hernia is actually repaired. This can be accomplished by a herniorrhaphy, in which the physician makes a small incision in the lower abdomen, push the tissue back into the abdominal cavity and repairs the broken muscle wall, or a laparoscopic herrioplasty, whereby the physician uses a tiny camera and lighted scope inserted through a small incision to visualize and repair weakened using reinforcement. “Either of these procedures will yield the desired result,” said Paul Hogg, MD, General Surgeon with Southern Virginia Medical Group. “Whenever possible, however, I use the laparoscopic herrioplasty for my patients because they usually are able to go home within hours of having the procedure with very little pain and their recovery is much faster than with the herniorrhaphy.”
Billy Dickerson’s case is a perfect example of how well the laparoscopic herrioplasty works for patients with inguinal hernias. The Gasburg, VA resident became part of a statistic when he joined nearly five million other Americans that will be diagnosed with a hernia this year. Mr. Dickerson was referred by his primary care physician to Dr. Paul Hogg, MD, General Surgeon of Southern Virginia Medical Group for surgical repair of his inguinal hernia. Mr. Dickerson, like many people, thought that his hernia was something that Dr. Hogg would “take out” to relieve his condition. That was not the only part of the process that Dr. Dickerson found surprising. He arrived at the hospital early on the morning of his surgery expecting to waiting in the outpatient surgery area several hours. Much to his approval, Dr. Hogg was there early as well, and his surgery didn’t start on time, it started early! Mr. Dickerson was back in the comfort of his home by 1:00 PM. According to Mr. Dickerson, he experienced only a little soreness, which was “100% better than he thought is would be.” He said the surgery was, “a piece of cake.”
Dr. Paul Hogg is certified by the American Board of General Surgery. His practice, Southern Virginia Medical Group, is located at 511 Belfield Drive, Emporia, VA. If you experience signs or symptoms of an inguinal hernia, contact your primary care physician or proceed to your nearest emergency room. If you’ve been diagnosed with an inguinal hernia or you would like to schedule an appointment with Dr. Hogg, contact Southern Virginia Medical Group at 434-348-4680.