An inguinal hernia is a congenital or acquired condition in which organs from the abdominal cavity protrude under the skin through the inguinal canal. This condition requires correction of the inguinal hernia.
Causes
Acquired inguinal hernias are more common in men. This is related to physiology: in men, the inguinal canal is less reinforced by muscles, shorter, and wider than in women. A sudden increase in intra-abdominal pressure can create a defect in the anterior abdominal wall.
Factors that may lead to the correction of an inguinal hernia include:
- Chronic cough;
- Frequent sneezing;
- Excess weight or sudden weight loss;
- Constipation;
- Pregnancy;
- Frequent lifting of bulky and heavy objects;
- Genetic predisposition.
Diagnosis before inguinal hernia correction in Israel
Patients requiring inguinal hernia correction present complaints of:
- Hernia-like protrusion in the groin area. It may increase over several weeks or months and may only manifest after a sudden heavy lift;
- Pain of varying intensity in the groin or lower abdomen, which may radiate to the lower back or sacrum;
- Swelling, a feeling of heaviness, pulsation, and burning at the site of the hernia – alleviated if the patient lies down.
At the leading clinic in Israel, Ichilov, a series of advanced diagnostic procedures will be conducted before inguinal hernia correction:
- Laboratory blood and urine tests;
- Electrocardiogram;
- Ultrasound of the abdominal organs;
- Ultrasound of the scrotum and inguinal canal;
- Irrigoscopy – X-ray examination of the large intestine using contrast.
In addition to collecting medical history and conducting diagnostics for inguinal hernia correction, detailed consultations with leading specialists in abdominal surgery and anesthesiology at Ichilov are preliminarily scheduled.
Inguinal Hernia Correction in Israel
Treatment of an inguinal hernia can only be surgical. At Ichilov, patients will have access to a choice of surgical techniques for inguinal hernia correction in Israel:
- Herniorrhaphy or open surgery according to Lichtenstein. During the surgery, no tension is created in the muscles. The surgeon performs plastic surgery on the anterior abdominal wall and reduces the hernia sac. Then a flat polymer mesh is implanted over the defect. Thanks to proficiency in various treatment methods, especially the latest surgical techniques, colorectal surgeons advocate for minimally invasive intervention. This principled position is evident for all surgical operations performed at Ichilov.
- Laparoscopic surgery. This is the latest technique that surgeons prefer for inguinal hernia correction in Israel. Through small punctures, the surgeon introduces a camera into the abdominal cavity to visualize the surgical area on a monitor. The hernia sac is then reduced, followed by reinforcement of the wall using a polymer mesh.
Surgical intervention using this method at Ichilov has several undeniable advantages. First and foremost, it is minimally traumatic for patients. The incisions made by the surgeon are very small, allowing for quick healing and leaving no cosmetic defect in the form of a scar. At the same time, patients recover very quickly after such surgery, and the risk of complications approaches zero.