The goal of ventral hernia surgery is to repair the hole/defect in the abdominal wall so that the intestine and other abdominal tissue cannot bulge through the wall again. Untreated hernias can become difficult to repair and can lead to serious complications, such as strangulation of a portion of the intestine. In fact, without treatment, ventral hernias can get larger and worsen with time. Ventral hernias do not go away or get better on their own and require surgery to repair. This is a medical emergency that requires immediate care.

If this happens, the trapped portion of the intestine becomes strangled, loses its blood supply and starts to die. Severe abdominal pain can occur if part of the intestine bulges through the abdominal wall and becomes trapped in the opening.

Sits or stands for long periods of time.

Strains to have a bowel movement/urinate.

The bulge may flatten when lying down or pushing against it.Ī ventral hernia causes an increasing level of pain when a person: Often, the first sign is a visible bulge under the skin in the abdomen or an area that is tender to the touch. Some patients don’t feel any discomfort in the early stages of ventral hernia formation. What are the signs and symptoms of a ventral hernia?

Older age (general loss of elasticity to abdominal wall).

Prostatism (enlargement of the prostate gland, which causes straining while urinating in older men).

Lung diseases ( chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and emphysema struggling to breathe puts strain on the abdominal wall).

Straining while having a bowel movement/urinating.

History of lifting or pushing heavy objects.

Weakness in the abdominal wall caused by conditions that put strain on the wall.

Weakness in an area of the abdominal wall that was present at birth.

Weakness at the incision site of a previous abdominal surgery (which could result from an infection at the surgery site or failed surgical repair/mesh placement).What are the causes and risk factors for developing a ventral hernia?

Push the red button at your own risk