Herniorraphy
Encyclopedia
Hernia repair refers to a surgical operation
for the correction of a hernia
(a bulging of internal organs
or tissues
through a defect in the wall of a body cavity
). Hernias can occur in many places, including the abdomen
, groin
, diaphragm
, brain
, and at the site of a previous operation
. There are many different approaches to the surgical repair of hernias, including herniorrhaphy, hernioplasty, and herniotomy. Hernia repair is often performed as an ambulatory procedure
.
Repair may inguinal hernia
, femoral hernia
, umbilical hernia
, or other hernias.
is described as a herniotomy. When herniotomy is combined with a reinforced repair of the posterior inguinal canal wall with autogenous
(patient's own tissue) or heterogeneous
material such as prolene
mesh, it is termed hernioplasty as opposed to herniorrhaphy, in which no autogenous or heterogeneous material is used for reinforcement.
Surgery
Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
for the correction of a hernia
Hernia
A hernia is the protrusion of an organ or the fascia of an organ through the wall of the cavity that normally contains it. A hiatal hernia occurs when the stomach protrudes into the mediastinum through the esophageal opening in the diaphragm....
(a bulging of internal organs
Viscus
In anatomy, a viscus is an internal organ, and viscera is the plural form. The viscera, when removed from a butchered animal, are known collectively as offal...
or tissues
Tissue (biology)
Tissue is a cellular organizational level intermediate between cells and a complete organism. A tissue is an ensemble of cells, not necessarily identical, but from the same origin, that together carry out a specific function. These are called tissues because of their identical functioning...
through a defect in the wall of a body cavity
Body cavity
By the broadest definition, a body cavity is any fluid-filled space in a multicellular organism. However, the term usually refers to the space located between an animal’s outer covering and the outer lining of the gut cavity, where internal organs develop...
). Hernias can occur in many places, including the abdomen
Umbilical hernia
Congenital umbilical hernia is a congenital malformation, common in infants of African descent. Among adults, it is three times more common in women than in men; among children, the ratio is roughly equal...
, groin
Inguinal hernia
An inguinal hernia is a protrusion of abdominal-cavity contents through the inguinal canal. They are very common , and their repair is one of the most frequently performed surgical operations....
, diaphragm
Diaphragmatic hernia
Diaphragmatic hernia is a defect or hole in the diaphragm that allows the abdominal contents to move into the chest cavity. Treatment is usually surgical.The following types of diaphragmatic hernia exist:* Congenital diaphragmatic hernia** Morgagni's hernia...
, brain
Brain herniation
Brain herniation, also known as cistern obliteration, is a deadly side effect of very high intracranial pressure that occurs when the brain shifts across structures within the skull...
, and at the site of a previous operation
Incisional hernia
An incisional hernia occurs in an area of weakness caused by an incompletely-healed surgical wound. Since median incisions in the abdomen are frequent for abdominal exploratory surgery, ventral incisional hernias are termed ventral hernias. If it is not caused by an incision, then it is a...
. There are many different approaches to the surgical repair of hernias, including herniorrhaphy, hernioplasty, and herniotomy. Hernia repair is often performed as an ambulatory procedure
Ambulatory care
Ambulatory care is a personal health care consultation, treatment or intervention using advanced medical technology or procedures delivered on an outpatient basis Ambulatory care is a personal health care consultation, treatment or intervention using advanced medical technology or procedures...
.
Repair may inguinal hernia
Inguinal hernia
An inguinal hernia is a protrusion of abdominal-cavity contents through the inguinal canal. They are very common , and their repair is one of the most frequently performed surgical operations....
, femoral hernia
Femoral hernia
A hernia is caused by the protrusion of a viscus through a weakness in the containing wall. This weakness may be inherent, as in the case of inguinal, femoral and umbilical hernias. On the other hand, the weakness may be caused by surgical incision through the muscles of the abdominal/thoracic wall...
, umbilical hernia
Umbilical hernia
Congenital umbilical hernia is a congenital malformation, common in infants of African descent. Among adults, it is three times more common in women than in men; among children, the ratio is roughly equal...
, or other hernias.
Techniques
An operation in which the hernia sac is removed without any repair of the inguinal canalInguinal canal
The inguinal canal is a passage in the anterior abdominal wall which in men conveys the spermatic cord and in women the round ligament. The inguinal canal is larger and more prominent in men.-Site:...
is described as a herniotomy. When herniotomy is combined with a reinforced repair of the posterior inguinal canal wall with autogenous
Autotransplantation
Autotransplantation is the transplantation of organs, tissues or even proteins from one part of the body to another in the same individual. Tissue transplanted by such "autologous" procedure is referred to as an autograft or autotransplant. It is contrasted with xenotransplantation and...
(patient's own tissue) or heterogeneous
Homogeneity and heterogeneity
Homogeneity and heterogeneity are concepts relating to the uniformity or lack thereof in a substance. A material that is homogeneous is uniform in composition or character; one that is heterogeneous lacks uniformity in one of these qualities....
material such as prolene
Prolene
Prolene is a synthetic, monofilament, nonabsorbable polypropylene suture. It is indicated for skin closure and general soft tissue approximation and ligation. Its advantages include minimal tissue reactivity and durability...
mesh, it is termed hernioplasty as opposed to herniorrhaphy, in which no autogenous or heterogeneous material is used for reinforcement.