Archbold Medical Center| Archives Magazine | Summer 2018

20 ARCHBOLD MEDICAL CENTER h e r n i a ? WHAT IS A DO YOU have a bulge or lump that causes discomfort when you stand up, bend over or cough? If you answered yes, you might have a hernia. Hernias are common, painful nuisances that rarely improve on their own. If a hernia becomes too painful, your doctor can recommend surgery to prevent potentially dangerous complications. “Hernias can cause life-threatening problems if left unfixed and require emergency surgery in some circum- stances,” said Cianna Pender, MD, gen- eral surgeon at South Georgia Surgical Associates. “It’s important that you talk with your primary care physician or a surgeon so they can eval- uate the problem and decide if surgery is the best solution.” A hernia is an abnormal defect in the wall of your abdomen, groin, diaphragm or chest. It occurs when an organ or tissue squeezes through a weak spot in surrounding muscle. The most common types of hernias are inguinal (inner groin), incisional (resulting from an incision), femoral (outer groin), umbilical (belly button) and hiatal (upper stomach). Depending on the type of her- nia, symptoms can include pain or discomfort in the affected area, acid reflux, chest pain, a burning or aching sensation at the site of the bulge, and even difficulty swallowing. In some cases, hernias can have no symptoms and are not discovered until a routine physical or medical exam. What causes them? “Hernias are caused by a combina- tion of pressure and an opening or weakness of muscle,” said Dr. Pender. “Hernias can be congenital or acquired. If acquired, the hernia could happen due to a weakening of tissue or as a result of trauma.” Common causes of muscle weak- ness include failure of the abdominal wall to close properly in the womb, age, damage from injury or surgery, and chronic coughing. Many things can cause an increase in pressure resulting in a hernia, including strenuous activity, straining during bowel movements or urination, persistent coughing or sneezing, and pregnancy or sudden weight gain. Additionally, obesity, poor nutrition and smoking can all weaken muscles and make hernias more likely. How are they treated? While hernias can cause discomfort, they can be fixed in a variety of ways. “Open, laparoscopic and robotic sur- gical approaches can all be used to fix hernias,” said Dr. Pender. “Sometimes hernia repairs require reinforcement or replacement of weakened tissue muscle with mesh products.” Archbold offers a variety of approaches when repairing the differ- ent types of hernias. “We are the only hospital in the area that uses the da Vinci Xi robot to repair complex and recurrent hernias,” said Dr. Pender. “This minimally invasive approach allows patients to recover faster and typically have less pain.” You can help avoid hernias or keep an existing one from getting worse. Stop smoking, see a doctor when you’re sick to avoid developing a persistent cough, maintain a healthy weight, lift heavy objects with your knees, and avoid straining during bowel movements and urination. It’s important to recognize the signs of a hernia. With medical care and lifestyle changes, you can minimize the effects of a hernia and avoid complications. Cianna Pender, MD General Surgeon