Hernia Complications and How to Deal With Them

This article will discuss hernia complications and ways to manage them.

• Incarceration Incarceration occurs when the fat or intestine that’s poking through the hernia becomes stuck within the hernia. This can be painful, as it compromises blood supply to the area and can lead to tissue death. An incarcerated hernia is usually a medical emergency that requires surgery.

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• Obstruction If the bowel is incarcerated in the hernia, it can cause an obstruction that prevents the passage of food or stool. This can result in other symptoms, such as pain, nausea, vomiting, or an inability to have a bowel movement. Bowel obstruction from a hernia is a surgical emergency if it can’t be pushed back into place.

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• Strangulation If an incarcerated hernia is left untreated, it may restrict the blood supply to neighboring tissue. This is called strangulation. Without a proper blood supply, that area of tissue will eventually die. A strangulated hernia is a life-threatening medical emergency.

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• Recurrent Hernia In a hernia repair surgery, the surgeon pushes the tissue back into its original position and repairs the hole. Sometimes a hernia can form again in the same place after surgery. This is known as a recurrent hernia.

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• Infection During a hernia repair procedure, surgeons often use surgical mesh to reinforce the abdominal wall and prevent another hernia. This mesh can cause infections in up to 8 percent of people who have a hernia repair surgery.

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• Nausea and vomiting
• Fever
• Sudden pain that quickly becomes worse
• Bulge or swelling under the skin that turns red, purple, or dark
• Inability to have a bowel movement or pass gas, despite feeling like you need to

• Blood tests to check for signs of infection
• Imaging tests, such as ultrasound, computed tomography, or magnetic resonance imaging, to visualize the anatomy of the hernia

If your doctor diagnoses you with a hernia, it’s important to receive regular monitoring. If your hernia starts growing or causing more severe symptoms, your doctor can recommend treatment to prevent complications.

Hernia complications can be treated with surgical and nonsurgical interventions. The choice of treatment depends on whether you have symptoms — and whether the hernia is strangulated or causing an obstruction.

Surgical Interventions

Your doctor may recommend surgery to prevent a hernia from worsening or causing complications. They may also recommend surgery if your hernia is incarcerated or strangulated, as this may be life-threatening.

Hernia surgery is performed via one of two methods:

• Open Hernia Repair This involves one incision. Through this cut, the surgeon pushes the protruding organ or tissue back into place, and then repairs the opening. Surgical mesh may be used to reinforce the abdominal wall and prevent another hernia.

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• Laparoscopic Hernia Repair This involves three or four small incisions. A thin tube with a tiny camera at the end goes into one incision, which allows the doctor to view the surgery on a screen. Small instruments are inserted through the other holes to repair the hernia. Laparoscopic surgery is sometimes performed using robotic arms.

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Nonsurgical Interventions

• Lose weight if you are overweight. Extra weight puts more pressure on the abdominal wall, which could weaken it.
• Use proper technique when lifting things. To prevent excessive strain on the abdomen, bend your knees and use your leg muscles to lift, not your waist. If you are lifting weights, warm up beforehand and don’t lift more weight than you can comfortably handle.
• If you smoke, get help to quit. Smoking can cause coughing, which increases the chances of getting a hernia.
• Prevent constipation. Add extra fluids and more fiber to your diet to soften stools and prevent straining or constipation when you have bowel movements.

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• Get treated if you have a chronic cough. Coughing puts pressure on the abdominal muscles. Over time, that could contribute to a hernia.

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• Strengthen your core muscles. Your core includes your abdominal, pelvic floor, and gluteal muscles. Strengthening these muscles can support the muscles around your stomach and groin, thereby decreasing the chances of developing a hernia.

• Treat constipation.
• Wear a support belt.
• Avoid heavy lifting.
• Apply a cold compress to relieve pain.
• Take over-the-counter pain relievers.

• Sudden pain that quickly worsens
• Nausea

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• Vomiting
• Fever
• Skin over the hernia changes color
• Hernia becomes numb

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• Inability to have a bowel movement

• Hernia complications may arise if the contents of the hernia become trapped, which could result in an obstruction or tissue death due to a lack of blood supply.
• Signs of hernia complications that require immediate medical attention include sudden pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, an inability to have a bowel movement, and changes in the hernia’s color.
• In some cases, hernias require immediate surgery, but other times your doctor may recommend close monitoring and lifestyle changes.
• If you have a hernia, the best way to prevent complications is to seek treatment early and keep your doctor informed of any changes.