Health encyclopaedia

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Treatment of Hernia, inguinal

The main treatment is surgery, designed to replace the protruded part and to repair the weakness in the wall so preventing further hernias.  The weak area is reinforced with steel or nylon mesh or by stitching the weak muscles together. The operation is usually carried out under general anaesthetic but is sometimes carried out under local anaesthetic if preferred.

Some hernias are treated by keyhole surgery (laparoscopic) through a very small incision. NICE (The National Institute for Clinical Excellence) recommended in September 2004 that laparoscopic surgery should be one of the treatment options for the repair of inguinal hernia. They recommend that people should be fully informed of all the risks and benefits of open and laparoscopic surgery by either the transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) or totally extraperitoneal (TEP) approaches, to enable them to choose between the procedures.

A truss is rarely used nowadays, only when surgery is not possible or needs to be delayed. 

Most umbilical hernias in babies correct themselves by two to three years old but occasionally surgery is needed after this age to strengthen the area of the hernia. Inguinal hernias in babies and children however do need surgery to prevent strangulation.

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