Top four reasons not to delay hernia surgery
A hernia is a weakness in the muscular wall through which an organ such as the bowel may protrude. According to
Miguel DeLeon, MD, of Virtua Surgical Group, it's important not to delay the repair. While repairs require surgery, the risks of leaving a hernia unattended are far too great to ignore. Here's a look at Dr. DeLeon's top four reasons not to delay hernia surgery:
- The longer a patient puts off surgery, the greater the potential for complications. If the intestines get caught within the ring of the abdominal weakness or defect and is not pushed back into the abdominal cavity, the intestines can become strangulated and can die due to the loss of blood supply. A hernia can also cause an obstruction in the intestines, preventing normal digestion. Such complications require emergency surgery.
- Over time, continuous pressure from the organ can enlarge the weak point in the muscular wall and make it more difficult to operate.
- The longer the hernia goes unattended, the more symptoms the patient is likely to experience. Symptoms range from pain to extreme bulges at the site of the hernia, preventing the patient from daily activity and fitting into his/her clothing.
- The larger the hernia the longer the recovery. Most people delay the surgery because of its inconvenience to their life; however, they're actually making it worse. What's more, minimally invasive surgery allows shorter recovery than in the past.