The term "inguinal hernia" refers to a pathological condition in which the peritoneum is protruded into the cavity of the zone located in the lower abdomen between the hips. In most cases, the disease is diagnosed in men. According to statistics, 97% of patients are representatives of the stronger sex. The presence of a bulge in the groin is a great danger. If it is detected, you must immediately consult a doctor. He will conduct diagnostic measures and draw up the most effective treatment regimen. In most cases, surgery is required.
Development mechanism
In the body of every person there is an inguinal canal. This is a specific formation, which is a gap, the length of which does not exceed 4.5 cm. It begins in the abdominal cavity and ends in the groin. It is through this gap that the protrusion of organs occurs.
Inguinal hernia can be either congenital or acquired. In these cases, the mechanism of its development is different.
If the intrauterine development of the child is normal, at 9 months the boy's testicles descend into the scrotum. Initially, their formation took place in the abdomen, then they moved along the inguinal canal. Normally, the so-called pocket, which stores a message with the abdominal cavity, gradually overgrows after the birth of a child.
In some cases this does not happen. As a result, the opening, which is the communication between the scrotum and the stomach, remains open. With an increase in the rate of intra-abdominal pressure, internal organs (in most cases, intestinal loops) may fall into it. In girls, the mechanism of development of the ailment is similar, the difference is that the uterus lowers, which is also initially located higher. The consequences of inguinal hernia in men and women are extremely dangerous. In this regard, a child who has a birth defect should be examined regularly by a specialist.
Acquired inguinal hernia occurs under the influence of certain provoking factors, as a result of which weakening of the muscles of the abdominal cavity occurs. They are no longer able to hold internal organs.
Thus, before an inguinal hernia forms, certain changes occur. In other words, the bulge is a consequence of the pathological process.
Causes
Inguinal hernia is formed under the influence of the following provoking factors:
- Preterm pregnancy. If the delivery process took place earlier, some internal organs and the “pocket” itself did not complete the full cycle of their development. As a result, the latter remained open.
- Hereditary predisposition. If an inguinal hernia was diagnosed in close relatives, the likelihood of its development increases significantly.
- Weakness of muscle tissue located in the abdominal wall.
- Overweight. With obesity, the abdominal organs experience an increased load.
- Various types of injuries of the inguinal zone. As a rule, after receiving them, a significant weakening of the ligaments and muscles is noted.
- A sharp decrease in body weight. If there is no fat layer in the area of the inguinal canal, intestinal loops and other internal organs easily penetrate into empty volumes.
- A lifestyle that does not imply frequent motor activity. Against the background of physical inactivity, muscles atrophy, become flabby. They cannot fully perform their functions, as a result of which organs without resistance pass into the channel.
- Frequent and high-intensity physical activity. Against the background of overvoltage, the level of intra-abdominal pressure rises.
- Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, which are accompanied by frequent constipation.
- Chronic cough
Thus, the disease can develop under the influence of many provoking factors. Information on how to treat an inguinal hernia should be provided by a doctor, but each patient must understand that even surgical intervention will not be as effective as possible if he does not make adjustments to his lifestyle.
Clinical picture
Symptoms may occur shortly after birth or during life. The first signs of both congenital and acquired ailments are similar. In most cases, a man discovers a bulge on his own. The degree of protrusion in this case increases with coughing and physical exertion. On palpation, the formation is soft and elastic. Pain with inguinal hernia in men is also absent.
If you take a horizontal position, the bulge will decrease in size. If you press it with your fingers, it is very easy to set inward. In this case, a hole is well felt through which the protrusion of the organs occurs.
Hernia is a rare cause of groin pain in men. As a rule, the ailment is not accompanied by the occurrence of severe discomfort. In some cases, a hernia seizes the bladder. In such situations, the cause of groin pain in men is dysuric disorders. If the cecum got into the hernial sac, constipation, cramps and flatulence worry. Sometimes there is an increase in the scrotum in size.
If a bulge occurs, you should immediately contact a surgeon. Only a doctor knows how to treat an inguinal hernia. The main diagnostic measures are: examination, palpation, ultrasound, X-ray examination, irrigoscopy and cystoscopy. Based on the results, the doctor draws up the most effective treatment regimen and determines the method of surgical intervention.
Conservative Therapies
As a rule, they are ineffective. If the hernial sac is set, that is, there is no infringement, or there are contraindications for the operation, wearing a medical bandage is indicated. The size of the product is determined by the doctor. Bandages can be either single or double-sided.
It is important for patients to understand that the use of this medical device does not eliminate inguinal hernia. This is only a means of preventing infringement and prolapse in the hernia sac of the intestine and other organs. You can completely get rid of the disease only by operational methods.
Surgical intervention
Alternatives to such treatment currently do not exist. The operation is carried out as planned. Exceptions are complications, for example, in the form of infringement of a hernia. In such situations, surgery is performed on an emergency basis. This is due to the fact that necrosis can form in the stricken organ, which poses a danger not only to health, but also to the life of the patient. In addition, children's age up to six months is also an indication for urgent surgery, since in this case most of the complications can be avoided.
Before removing an inguinal hernia in men, preparation is required. First of all, the patient must provide the doctor with information regarding the medications taken, chronic pathologies and allergies. Mandatory is a comprehensive examination.
A few days before the operation, it is necessary to abandon the use of alcohol-containing drinks and tobacco smoking. The day before surgery, you must follow a strict diet. Drinking is allowed only clean still water.
In men, removal of an inguinal hernia can be performed openly or laparoscopically. The methodology is selected by the doctor individually. An exception may be cases when the patient enters the hospital in an extremely serious condition. In such situations, as a rule, traditional hernia repair with open access is performed.
The algorithm for the implementation of surgical intervention:
- An incision is made in the protrusion zone. Tissue dissection is performed parallel to the ligament.
- The surgeon removes the hernial sac. After that, the doctor excises it with a scalpel.
- The specialist examines the internal organs, assessing their condition.
- If pathologically altered tissues are found, they are also excised. Healthy organs are plunged back into the abdominal cavity.
- The doctor sutures the inguinal canal. This occurs using synthetic or proprietary fabrics.
- The specialist sutures and processes the resulting wound.
The traditional operation is performed in healthy men who in the past did not experience the formation of inguinal hernia. When contacting a private clinic, the patient has the right to choose the preferred method of intervention. But, judging by the reviews, an inguinal hernia operation in men in an open way is easily tolerated. In addition, its cost is lower than that of minimally invasive techniques.
Laparoscopic surgery is the most modern way to get rid of an ailment. It does not require significant tissue dissection. It is enough for the doctor to make 2-3 cuts with a length of no more than 3 cm. Then the surgeon places laparoscopic instruments in them.
During the operation, the doctor removes the hernia and reduces the size of the hole through which the protrusion of the internal organs occurs. Then the defect in the abdominal cavity is sutured.
According to reviews, in men an operation on an inguinal hernia with the laparoscopic method causes more positive emotions. This is due to the short period of rehabilitation and the absence of severe scars.
These are the main methods for removing an inguinal hernia. Less commonly, doctors resort to the following methods:
- The operation of Liechtenstein. It implies the installation of a mesh implant, the fixation of which is carried out behind the spermatic cord. The advantage of the method is the minimal risk of relapse.
- Endoscopic hernioplasty. It implies the installation of the mesh extra- or preperitoneal way.
- Obstructive hernioplasty. In the process, the inguinal canal is not sutured. The doctor only conducts an obstruction of the hernia gate with a net.
The choice of surgical intervention method can be influenced not only by individual characteristics of the patient’s health, but also by the cost of the operation. In state medical institutions, traditional hernia repair is performed, as a rule, for free, but with an insurance policy. The average cost of an operation on an inguinal hernia in men using the standard method in private clinics is 20 thousand rubles. Laparoscopic intervention is an order of magnitude more expensive. The cost of an operation on an inguinal hernia in men in this way is about 45-50 thousand rubles.
Features of the postoperative period
The disease most often develops against the background of a significant weakening of muscle tissue. In this regard, recovery after surgery on an inguinal hernia in men implies their strengthening.
The duration of the rehabilitation period directly depends on how the excision was performed. As a rule, the patient after the traditional hernia repair needs to be in the hospital for about a week. During this period, bed rest and diet are indicated. Any physical activity during recovery after inguinal hernia (in both men and women) is unacceptable. A few days later, on the contrary, it is recommended to perform a simple set of exercises aimed at strengthening the muscle corset.
If synthetic threads were used during the operation, sutures are removed on the 5-7th day. Until this moment, dressings are done every day. In the first few days, the presence of severe pain is possible. As a rule, they are a variant of the norm. For their relief, the doctor prescribes painkillers.
After removal of an inguinal hernia in men, rehabilitation also involves wearing a bandage. Using this medical device can significantly reduce the risk of relapse and complications. This is due to the fact that the bandage does not allow stretching of muscle tissue and significantly reduces the load on the peritoneum. The duration of use of the product is several days. It is especially useful at the initial stage of recovery after surgery, when there is pain.
Patients who have undergone surgical intervention are shown a special diet. In men, after an inguinal hernia, various intestinal disorders often occur. In this regard, it is necessary to adhere to the following principles in nutrition:
- Most often, it is recommended to eat liquid food.
- All servings should be small.
- Chew food thoroughly. The meal should take a long period of time.
- It is recommended to eat 4 times a day, making equal intervals between meals.
- The emphasis in the diet should be on protein products. With their frequent use, the process of muscle recovery is accelerated. The menu must include: chicken, turkey, fish, low-fat milk and cottage cheese, eggs.
- From the diet, it is necessary to exclude foods that can trigger flatulence. These include: confectionery, kefir, pastries, yogurts and fruits.
- It is allowed to drink clean still water. Coffee, soda and alcohol are strictly prohibited.
Compliance with these recommendations will greatly accelerate the recovery period.
Possible complications
Any operation is an intervention in the human body, which can subsequently react unpredictably. This also applies to inguinal hernia in men. Complications after surgery are not uncommon. But, as a rule, negative consequences are associated with human actions. For example, the doctor did not bandage the wound or the patient immediately began to expose the body to stress.
The most common complications are:
- Suppuration of the suture. It is accompanied by severe pain and an increase in local body temperature.
- Relapse. Inguinal hernia may appear again if the patient has violated the doctor’s prescription. Most often, relapses occur due to non-compliance with the diet, smoking and as a result of physical exertion. Less commonly, medical errors made during surgery are the cause.
- Hematomas. When they occur, cold compresses and squeezing dressings are shown.
- Damage to nerves, blood vessels, or spermatic cord. Similar complications are associated with medical error. As a result, the sensitivity of the skin in the groin and sexual function may be impaired.
- Dropsy of the testicle. It can be single or double sided.
- Thrombosis of the vessels of the legs.
- Impaired bowel function.
- Damage to the femur.
- Infectious diseases.
If the operation was performed by a qualified surgeon, the risk of complications is minimized.
The consequences of inguinal hernia in men
If you do not consult a doctor in a timely manner, they are very sad. It is important to understand that uncomfortable sensations and a pronounced aesthetic defect are not the most unpleasant consequences of inguinal hernia in men. There are many complications that pose a threat not only to health, but also to the life of the patient.
The consequences of inguinal hernia in men:
- Inflammatory process. Most often acute appendicitis, colitis and genital diseases develop. The severity of symptoms in this case is purely individual. Some are able to carry out daily activities, while others suffer from pain, nausea and vomiting. In any case, you need to immediately call an ambulance crew. This is due to the fact that the acute inflammatory process requires emergency surgical intervention.
- The formation of fecal plug. It occurs when part of the colon enters the hernial sac. With the accumulation of feces in it, this area becomes impassable. As a result, violations of the gastrointestinal tract occur. Against the background of a lack of blood supply, tissue death (necrosis) can occur.
- Injury of a hernia. This is a negative consequence, which, as a rule, develops with lightning speed. It is characterized by compression at the gates of the organs that enter the hernial sac. Instantly there is a violation of innervation and blood supply. According to statistics, 15% of inguinal hernias are infringed in the absence of timely treatment. The following symptoms are alarming: the bulge ceases to set, the formation becomes dense and tense, pronounced pain in the abdomen, nausea, vomiting, fever.
Each of the above consequences poses a threat to both the health and life of the patient. In this regard, if you feel worse, you need to call an ambulance team. In such situations, emergency surgical intervention is indicated.
General recommendations for patients
If signs of inguinal hernia are found, it is important to consult a doctor immediately. Currently, only with the help of the operation is it possible to get rid of the ailment. It is carried out as planned.
Patients who have already had an inguinal hernia removed should make adjustments to their lifestyle. High-intensity physical activity should be avoided and body weight controlled. It is also recommended that you follow the principles of healthy eating. If signs of relapse occur, you should also immediately contact a medical institution.
Finally
Inguinal hernia is a pathological condition in which protrusion of organs from the abdominal cavity to the area between the hips in the lower abdomen occurs. An ailment does not always worsen a man’s quality of life, but the absence of severe pain does not exclude the need for seeking medical help. Regarding the danger of inguinal hernia in men. Ignoring the problem leads to various negative consequences, including: inflammatory processes, infringement and fecal plugs. When such complications occur, emergency surgery is indicated.