how to repair femoral hernia

by Virgil Schamberger Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago

Surgical hernia repair

Open. This typically involves having a general anesthetic, meaning that the person is asleep for the procedure.
Laparoscopic. This surgery is minimally invasive, but the person receives a general anesthetic. ...
Complications and risks of surgery. Surgery for a femoral hernia is typically safe, though any surgery carries some level of risk. ...

Open surgery

The femoral canal (a channel containing the main blood vessels and nerves leading to the thigh) is opened and the surgeon places the lump of fatty tissue or loop of bowel back into your tummy. The femoral canal is then closed, often with a mesh plug, to repair the weak spot that let the hernia through.

Full Answer

What happens during a femoral hernia surgery?

Surgery gets rid of the hernia and prevents any serious complications, although there's a chance of it returning after the operation. What happens during surgery? There are 2 ways a femoral hernia repair can be performed: open surgery – where a cut is made to allow the surgeon to push the lump back into your tummy

How is a femoral hernia repaired in a child?

Seventy percent of pediatric cases of femoral hernias occur in infants under the age of one. Femoral hernia repair may be performed under either general or local anesthesia. The repair of the hernia involves a cut, or incision, in the groin area (near the thigh), adjacent to the femoral artery.

What are the treatment options for femoral hernia?

In adults, femoral hernias that enlarge, cause symptoms, or become incarcerated are treated surgically. Recovery time varies depending on the size of the hernia, the technique used, and the age and health of the patient. The two main types of surgery for hernias are as follows:

How is the diagnosis of a femoral hernia made?

If the hernia is large, the bulging will most likely be felt. Ultrasound of the abdominal and groin area can confirm the diagnosis or establish a diagnosis if suspicion of a femoral hernia is high but no bulge is evident on physical examination. Imaging technology can show the defect in the muscle wall, as well as the protruding tissue.

Can a femoral hernia repair itself?

A femoral hernia will not heal by itself and requires surgery to be repaired. 3 Initially, the hernia may only be a small lump in the groin, and it can grow much larger over time. It may also appear to grow and shrink with different activities.

Can a femoral hernia be repaired without mesh?

Overall, hernia repairs with and without mesh both proved effective in the treatment of hernias, although mesh repairs demonstrated fewer hernia recurrences, a shorter operation time and faster return to normal activities.

Which surgery is best for femoral hernia?

Femoral hernia could be repaired through the laparoscopic procedures for inguinal hernia. These procedures have clear anatomic view in the operation and preoperatively undiagnosed femoral hernia could be confirmed and treated.

Is femoral hernia major surgery?

Laparoscopic Femoral Hernia Repair Laparoscopic surgery is a minimally invasive procedure performed using general anesthesia. The surgeon makes several small incisions in the lower abdomen and inserts a laparoscope-a thin tube with a tiny video camera attached to one end.

What happens if a femoral hernia goes untreated?

When left untreated, a femoral hernia can result in additional complications, some of them severe. These complications may include: Incarcerated hernia: A hernia can grow to obstruct the bowel if its contents become trapped in the weak area of the abdominal wall.

How painful is femoral hernia surgery?

Femoral hernia repair is usually carried out under general anaesthetic, which means you'll be asleep during the procedure and will not feel any pain.

Can you live with a femoral hernia?

Strangulated femoral hernia It is a medical emergency that can be fatal without treatment. Strangulation is the most common serious complication of a femoral hernia, occurring in roughly 15–20% of cases. It tends to develop when the femoral canal is narrow, rigid, and unyielding.

How long is recovery from femoral hernia surgery?

Most people make a full recovery from femoral hernia repair within 6 weeks, although many people can return to driving, work and light activities within 2 weeks.

What type of doctor treats a femoral hernia?

What kind of doctor do you see for a hernia? When you have a hernia, treatment will start with your primary care provider. If you need surgery to repair the hernia, you'll be referred to a general surgeon. In fact, ventral hernia repairs are one of the most common operations U.S. general surgeons perform.

What is an alternative to mesh for hernia?

The Shouldice repair is the primary non-mesh hernia repair. Canadian Dr. Edward Earle Shouldice developed the technique during World War II. The Shouldice repair showed improved results and shorter recovery times over previous techniques.

How long does it take to recover from a femoral hernia operation?

Most people make a full recovery from femoral hernia repair within 6 weeks, although many people can return to driving, work and light activities within 2 weeks.

What is the best hernia repair method?

The open surgical repair of primary inguinal hernias is better than the laparoscopic technique for mesh repair, a new study has shown (New England Journal of Medicine 2004;350: 1819-27 [PubMed] [Google Scholar]).

Is hernia mesh Safe 2021?

Most brands and models of mesh today have excellent safety rates and have been used for many years. In general, the mesh that is used for most repairs at the Hernia Center of NGMC is the same mesh our surgeons have used for more than 10 years.

Why is it necessary to repair a femoral hernia?

Typically, surgical repair is necessary because femoral hernias can lead to severe complications. In this article, we discuss the causes and symptoms of a femoral hernia, how to get a diagnosis, when to see a doctor, and potential treatment options.

Why should anyone with a femoral hernia be treated?

Anyone who may have a femoral hernia should receive medical attention promptly. This is because there is a high risk of complications that can be serious.

What is it called when a hernia is trapped in the femoral canal?

Also known as an irreducible or trapped femoral hernia , this occurs when a hernia becomes trapped in the femoral canal and cannot move back into the abdomen.

What happens if a femoral hernia is obstructed?

If a femoral hernia becomes “incarcerated,” obstructed, or “strangulated,” it can cause additional symptoms and complications. A strangulated hernia is a life threatening situation that requires immediate medical care.

How many percent of femoral hernias do not receive a diagnosis?

Between 35 and 40 percent of femoral hernias do not receive a diagnosis until the person experiences hernia strangulation or bowel obstruction. Research. Trusted Source. suggests that there is a 10-fold increase in the risk of death in these acute cases.

What causes a femoral hernia?

A femoral hernia occurs when tissue pushes through a weak spot in the muscle wall of the groin or inner thigh. Common causes include being overweight and overstraining while coughing, exercising, or passing stool. Symptoms of a femoral hernia include a lump in the groin or inner thigh and groin discomfort. It may cause stomach pain and vomiting in ...

How many types of surgery are there for a femoral hernia?

There are two types of surgery for femoral hernia repair, and a doctor may recommend a type depending on the size of the hernia, the person’s age, their general health, and other factors.

How many ways can a femoral hernia be repaired?

There are 2 ways a femoral hernia repair can be performed:

How long does it take to heal a femoral hernia?

Most people make a full recovery from femoral hernia repair within 6 weeks, although many people can return to driving, work and light activities within 2 weeks. Read more about:

When is surgery needed?

Femoral hernias can be repaired using surgery to push the bulge back into place and strengthen the weakness in the wall of the tummy.

Why do women have femoral hernias?

Unlike inguinal hernias, femoral hernias occur far more frequently in women, particularly older women. This is because of the wider shape of the female pelvis. Femoral hernias are rare in children. Femoral hernias can sometimes appear suddenly because of strain on the tummy, such as:

What causes numbness in the groin area?

injury or narrowing of the femoral vein (which passes through the femoral canal) injury to the bowel. temporary weakness of the leg. injury to the nerves, causing pain or numbness in the groin area. Complications are more likely in older people or those with other conditions.

Where does a femoral hernia occur?

A femoral hernia usually occurs when fatty tissue or a part of your bowel pokes through into your groin at the top of your inner thigh. It pushes through a weak spot in the surrounding muscle wall (abdominal wall) into an area called the femoral canal.

What is a hernia in the body?

A hernia occurs when an internal part of the body pushes through a weakness in the muscle or surrounding tissue wall. Your muscles are usually strong and tight enough to keep your intestines and organs in place, but a hernia can develop if there are any weak spots.

How is a femoral hernia treated?

In adults, femoral hernias that enlarge, cause symptoms, or become incarcerated are treated surgically . Recovery time varies depending on the size of the hernia, the technique used, and the age and health of the patient. The two main types of surgery for hernias are as follows:

How to diagnose a femoral hernia?

Diagnosis. To diagnose a femoral hernia, a physical examination of the groin area is performed . In obese patients, imaging in the form of ultrasonography, CT or MRI may aid in the diagnosis. In female patients, an abdominal x-ray showing both a painful groin lump and small bowel clearly suggests a femoral hernia.

What is a strangulated femoral hernia?

A strangulated femoral hernia occurs when the hernia blocks blood supply to part of the bowel - the loop of bowel loses its blood supply. Strangulation can happen in all hernias, but is more common in femoral and inguinal hernias due to their narrow "necks".

How to tell if a hernia is a femoral hernia or an?

It can be difficult to determine if a hernia is a femoral hernia or an inguinal hernia. They are differenent only in their location relative to the inguinal ligament. A hernia in the groin area above the inguinal ligament is an inguinal hernia; below the ligament a femoral hernia. A highly skilled and experienced surgeon who does the procedure in high volumne is helpful to determine what type of hernia is present. Sometimes this is only evident at the time of surgery.

What is a hernia in the intestine?

An obstructed femoral hernia occurs when a part of the intestine becomes intertwined with the hernia, causing an intestinal obstruction. The obstruction may grow and the hernia can become increasingly painful. Vomiting may also result.

What is an open hernia repair?

Open Hernia Repair. In open hernia repair, also called herniorrhaphy, a person is given local anesthesia in the abdomen or spine to numb the area, general anesthesia , or a combination of the two. The surgeon makes an incision in the groin, moves the hernia back into the abdomen.

What is an incarcerated hernia?

Incarcerated and Obstructed Inguinal Hernias. An incarcerated femoral hernia is a hernia that becomes stuck in the femoral canal and cannot be massaged back into the abdomen. This type of hernia is also called "irreducible ".

What is a femoral hernia repair?

Femoral hernia repair. Femoral hernia repair is surgery to repair a hernia near the groin or upper thigh. A femoral hernia is tissue that bulges out of a weak spot in the groin. Usually this tissue is part of the intestine.

How do you repair a hernia?

During surgery to repair the hernia, the bulging tissue is pushed back in. The weakened area is sewn closed or strengthened. This repair can be done with open or laparoscopic surgery. You and your surgeon can discuss which type of surgery is right for you. You may receive general anesthesia.

What happens if a hernia is not repaired?

If the hernia is not repaired, the intestine can get trapped inside the hernia. This is called an incarcerated, or strangulated, hernia. It can cut off blood supply to the intestines. This can be life threatening.

How to reduce pressure in groin area?

Avoiding activities that can increase pressure in the groin area. Move slowly from a lying to a seated position.

What is the device that is inserted through a hernia?

A medical device called a laparoscope is inserted through one of the cuts. The scope is a thin, lighted tube with a camera on the end. It lets the surgeon see inside your belly. Other tools are inserted through the other cuts. The surgeon uses these tools to repair the hernia.

What to do when your surgeon tells you to take a pill?

Take the drugs your surgeon told you to take with a small sip of water.

Why do you need mesh for abdominal wall?

Often a piece of mesh is also sewn into place to strengthen your abdominal wall. This repairs the weakness in the wall.

What is a severe femoral hernia?

Severe symptoms of a femoral hernia. Severe symptoms can signify that a femoral hernia is obstructing your intestines. This is a very serious condition called strangulation. Strangulation causes intestinal or bowel tissue to die, which can put your life in danger. This is considered a medical emergency.

How long does it take to recover from a femoral hernia?

Most people can return to light activities within two weeks. Most people fully recover within six weeks. The recurrence of a femoral hernia is very low. The National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom estimates that only 1 percent of people who’ve had a femoral hernia will have a recurring hernia.

Why do my femorals get weak?

The exact cause of femoral and other hernias are unknown most of the time. You may be born with a weakened area of the femoral canal, or the area may become weak over time. Straining can contribute to the weakening of the muscle walls. Factors that can lead to overstraining include: childbirth. chronic constipation.

How do you know if you have a femoral hernia?

Severe symptoms of a femoral hernia include: severe stomach pain. sudden groin pain. nausea. vomiting. Call 911 and seek immediate medical attention if you suffer from these symptoms. If the hernia obstructs the intestines, blood flow to the intestines can be cut off.

How to repair a hernia in the groin?

In both surgeries, your surgeon will make incisions in your groin area to access the hernia. The intestine or other tissue protruding from the femoral area is returned to its proper position. The surgeon will sew the hole back together and may reinforce it with a piece of mesh. The mesh strengthens the wall of the canal. Some procedures called “tension-free repairs” are minimally invasive and don’t require the use of general anesthesia.

What is it called when a muscle pushes through the wall of the femoral canal?

If a portion of tissue pushes through the wall of the femoral canal, it’s called a femoral hernia.

How long does it take for a hernia to heal?

The British Hernia Centre estimates that the bowel will only survive for roughly 8 to 12 hours following strangulation, which makes it imperative to seek immediate medical attention if you have symptoms. The repair itself is very safe with little risk. Most people can return to light activities within two weeks. Most people fully recover within six weeks.

What happens after a groin surgery?

After the operation, your groin will feel sore and uncomfortable. You'll be given painkillers to help relieve this discomfort.

What to do if you are still in pain after going home?

If you're still in pain after going home, continue taking painkillers as advised by the hospital. Applying gentle pressure to your wound using your hand or a small pillow can make coughing, sneezing and moving between sitting and standing more comfortable.