Hernia Surgery

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There have been significant advancements in hernia surgery in the past few years. These have given us the ability to not only fix the hernia but to get the patient back to their life quicker. The new methods of  hernia surgery involve less invasive options such as laparoscopic and robotic surgery along with improved mesh systems. Together, these methods help reduce the recurrence and improve post-operative pain.
 
The surgeons at Foothill Surgical Associates have undergone advanced training in repairing difficult hernias. We also include nationally recognized protocols called Enhanced Recovery After Surgery to help expedite your post-operative improvement in pain and return to regular activity.

What is a Hernia?

Think of your abdomen as a box. The front is the abdominal wall, the posterior part is your back, the superior part is the diaphragm (breathing muscle), and the inferior part is your pelvis. A hernia happens when the organs that are supposed to be in this box push through to the outside of the box through a defect or hole. There are several types of hernias:
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• Hiatal Hernia: Hernia through your diaphragm. (This is discussed in a separatesection)
• Epigastric Hernia: Hernia below the sternum and above the belly button, usually in the mid line.
• Umbilical Hernia: Hernia at the belly button.
• Ventral Hernia: Hernia at other parts of the abdominal wall.
• Spigelian Hernia: Hernia that happens in between muscles.
• Incisional Hernia: Hernia at a previous incision site.
• Inguinal Hernia: Groin hernia.
• Femoral / Obturator Hernia: Hernia typically extending from the groin down to the thigh.
• Lumbar Hernia: Hernia at the back.

What Should I Do If I Have a Hernia?

Most hernias are not emergencies. Sometimes the hernias are very small and do not cause problems. However, a hernia never goes away by itself and can only be fixed through surgery. There are exceptions to surgery when a hernia can be watched but these are rare. We recommend discussing all hernias with one of our surgeons.Hernias can worsen over time and become larger and contain more organs and this makes the surgery more difficult than if the hernia was addressed early.There are two scenarios where a hernia becomes an emergency. The first is called incarceration where an organ becomes trapped in the hernia and cannot go back into the abdomen. The second is a progression of incarceration called strangulation. This is when the organ that is stuck starts to lose blood supply. To prevent incarceration or strangulation, we typically recommend hernia surgery for the vast majority of our patients.

What is a Hiatal Hernia?

There is an opening in the diaphragm (breathing muscle) that the esophagus goes through before it joins the stomach. If this opening becomes larger than normal, the negative pressure of the chest pulls the stomach into the chest and therefore increases the chance that the gastric juice refluxes into the esophagus. This negative pressure also weakens the lower esophageal sphincter.

Contact Us

If you are ready to make Acid Reflux a problem of the past, reach out to the professionals here at FSA Vein in Pomona and Ranch Cucamonga, CA to learn more about Acid Reflux Surgery. Contact us today and schedule your consultation!