A hernia is usually because of weakness in an individual’s abdominal wall, which allows the inner tissue or organs to protrude as a bulge on the skin. Most often, hernias are found in the abdomen or in the groin area. A herniorrhaphy procedure repairs a hernia by making an incision on the skin, pushing the protrusion back into its place and suturing the edges of healthy muscle tissues together. This works when the hernias are small or when the tissues are healthy and the stitches would not add to the strain on the tissue. The herniorrhaphy technique used may use a traditional incision or a laprascopic surgery. Also read more on paracentesis procedure.
In hernia cases involving trapped tissues which run the risk of having their blood supply cut off, leading to tissue death, surgery is usually urgently required. In males, before they are born, the testicles descend into the scrotum through the inguinal canal in the abdomen. Usually the inguinal canal closes before birth or by the age of two. In some cases, it may remain open well into adult life. In such cases, tissue from inside the abdomen may bulge through it, leading to indirect inguinal hernia. An inguinal herniorrhaphy procedure in children is usually an open surgery requiring about four weeks for recovery. Umbilical hernias occur when a part of the abdominal lining protrudes through a defective abdominal muscle, pushing the umbilicus out noticeably. Though this condition usually becomes normal on its own by the age of three, an umbilical herniorrhaphy procedure may be called for if the condition lasts beyond the age of four or in the case of strangulated umbilical hernia.
Herniorrhaphy protocol in some cases may involve the use of synthetic material as patches. These patches are sewn over the weakened area of the abdominal wall after the hernia is pushed backed into its place, so that there is no recurrence. These patches are used both in open and laprascopic surgeries to ensure that the stress on the weakened wall is minimal. This procedure is also called hernioplasty. Open surgery for small children with hernias on one side or both sides of the groin is in most cases found to be quite a safe procedure. An inguinal hernia needs to be treated and will not disappear on its own. Incarcerated hernias in children need to be repaired because there is a risk of strangulation of blood supply to the tissue or intestine.