Ventral Hernias

The condition of protrusion and compression of the abdominal organs from a weakened area in the anterior abdominal wall is called anterior abdominal wall hernia. Previous abdominal surgery, obesity, lifting weights are predisposing factors. Usually, the abdominal fat or intestines come out from the loosened area and they are compressed. The basic treatment in anterior abdominal wall hernia is to replace the compressed organs and repair the weak area. In this repair, the formation of a solid wall is aimed by fixing a patch (graft or mesh) on the weak area. The recurrence rate is 15% in hernia repairs where the patch is not used. For this reason, hernia repair is not performed without using a patch today. Repair of abdominal wall hernia can be done by open method or laparoscopic method. Success rates are similar in both methods. The biggest advantage of laparoscopic surgery is that since the surgery is performed through small holes, there is no incision on the abdominal wall. Since the fixation of the patch is done through the abdomen, the rate of pain is slightly higher than the open method. After 2-3 days, the amount of pain is equivalent to the open method.

Conditions to Consider After Ventral Hernia Surgery

It is normal to have pain in the surgery area for the first few days that does not prevent movement. The incision site is closed aesthetically and sutures are not required. Apart from resting in bed for a month, supporting the abdominal wall with an abdominal corset contributes to healing and protection of the surgical site. There is no harm in taking a walk. In the first five days, while climbing the stairs, the steps should be climbed one by one, by bringing the other foot next to one foot on each step. No more than 3 kg of weight should be lifted for a month. When getting out of bed, first turn sideways and get up from side to side. In this way, intra-abdominal pressure does not increase much and tension is not created in the operation area. In this period, we recommend consuming plenty of fibrous foods to make defecation comfortable and soft. There is no harm in taking a bath 48 hours after the operation. 5-6 days after the operation, the patient comes to the control and the wound site is checked.