How to treat postoperative hernia of the abdominal cavity

After surgery, a scar remains on the abdomen, which can become a factor in the appearance of a postoperative hernia. This disease occurs due to a violation of the seam or due to muscle divergence. Postoperative hernia of the abdominal cavity appears both after removal of the protrusion on the abdomen, and after surgical intervention for other pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract.

Such a complication of the operation can develop in the early and late period of rehabilitation, which will depend on the provocative phenomenon. And if there are only two main reasons, then there are many predisposing factors, and some of them cannot be influenced in any way.

Why does a ventral hernia occur?

The first cause of ventral hernia is suture failure . This is due to the use of low-quality materials or inaccurate tissue suturing techniques. In this case, the muscles diverge, and the organs of the abdominal cavity exit through the resulting hole. More often, the omentum, intestinal loops, and less often the bladder enter the hernial sac.

The seam diverges not only through the fault of the doctor, its violation can also occur during the rehabilitation period, when the patient does not follow the rules of prevention. The first week after the operation, physical activity is categorically contraindicated, but many people ignore this rule and return to their normal lives as soon as the soreness goes away.

The second common cause of pathology after surgery is muscle weakness. This phenomenon is observed in overweight people, pregnant women, with congenital pathologies of the musculoskeletal system. Even before surgery, surgeons recommend diet and safe exercise to reduce weight and strengthen muscles.

Complications after surgery may not occur immediately, the risk is still there for several years. Within 24-36 months, a strong scar is formed, and at any time it may not withstand the load.

What else can cause a hernia after surgery:

• increased intra-abdominal pressure;
• frequent coughing, overeating, bloating and constipation;
• diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and respiratory system;
• lifting weights, doing heavy sports;
• accidental injury.

Patients with obesity, diabetes mellitus, concomitant pathologies of the digestive system and small pelvis fall into the risk group for the appearance of ventral hernia.

The risk of complications increases with chronic systemic pathologies, bronchitis, pneumonia, cachexia. In women, an incisional hernia may occur during pregnancy if it occurs within the first few years after surgery.

Types and symptoms

Postoperative hernias of the anterior abdominal wall are classified according to several criteria: size, location, severity of the course. The protrusion can be small, and outwardly it is practically not determined. There are also medium, large and giant. The latter can reach a meter or more . According to the severity of the flow, reducible, irreducible, single-chamber and multi-chamber formations are distinguished. When the protrusion disappears in the supine position and with pressure, this is a reducible hernia, if this does not happen, we are talking about an irreducible formation.

In the central hernia can be complicated, and this will be indicated by such manifestations:

• lack of stool, excretion of blood with feces;
• anemic syndrome, general weakness, intoxication of the body;
• high fever, chills, headache and dizziness;
• nausea with vomiting;
• acute pain in the abdomen, tension and hardness of the anterior abdominal wall.

Typical symptoms in an uncomplicated course include discomfort in the area of ​​the protrusion. Unpleasant sensations appear during movement and with tension in the abdomen.

Pain is a rare symptom, pain syndrome develops already with the appearance of complications and concomitant pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract. With a postoperative hernia, bloating, constipation and nausea are often disturbing.

Treatment without surgery

Postoperative hernia in the abdominal cavity and its treatment without surgery is the task of several specialized doctors and, of course, the patient himself. It should be clarified that one cannot do without surgical intervention, but the operation may be postponed for some time for health reasons. With a hernia, the patient is observed by a surgeon, a gastroenterologist and a rehabilitation specialist.

A postoperative hernia of the abdominal cavity can be treated at home, but only if the patient regularly comes to the doctor for examination and adheres to all recommendations.

Conservative treatment  of incisional hernia includes:

1. Scar care. You need to go for dressings several times a week.
2. Diet . Food should be light, exclude constipation and gas formation.
3. exercise therapy . Therapeutic exercise is prescribed a few weeks after the operation.
4. Bandage . _ The postoperative corset should be worn according to the regimen indicated by the doctor.
5. Medicines . _ It is important to take NSAIDs, painkillers and antibiotics (if indicated).

Folk remedies

With cicatricial hernia, both local remedies and oral medications are important. Traditional medicine offers both. Especially useful will be compresses from products based on anti-inflammatory components. Of the substances for oral administration, general strengthening tinctures and decoctions are suitable.

Treatment at home does not exclude the need to visit a doctor and undergo prescribed procedures on an outpatient basis.

Proven folk recipes for ventral hernia:

1. Leaves , fruits and bark are crushed, poured with hot wine . 100 g of the mixture is applied to a cling film, applied to the protrusion area for an hour.
2. Nettle and plantain are crushed until juice appears . The mixture is applied to the affected area, fixed with a gauze bandage. This recipe is suitable for pain relief.
3. Lisya aloe are cleaned and sprinkled with soda . The tool is applied to the hernia to improve skin elasticity in order to speed up scarring.
4. Indian onion, plantain and golden mustache are crushed, 5 tablespoons of other fat are added to the mixture . The tool is heated, after cooling it is used for a compress daily.
5. Black bread is mixed with crushed garlic . The agent is applied to the formation for an hour, then it is important to wash the area of ​​​​the hernia and apply a compress of aloe or acacia.

Diet

Nutrition after surgery should contribute to a speedy recovery, and at the same time prevent such undesirable phenomena as constipation, bloating, and diarrhea. Before each meal, it is recommended to take a teaspoon of oatmeal or unrefined oil. This will help prevent constipation. After eating, it is forbidden to lie down, as this will provoke heartburn and will not contribute to normal digestion. Instead of relaxing, it is better to take a walk in the fresh air.

Another important principle of nutrition will be the regularity of eating. You need to eat in small portions of 200-250 ml 5-6 times a day.

In the morning it is recommended to have breakfast with cereals in milk, drink weak black or green tea. Lunch is best divided into 3 times, and it should include protein foods. Dinner should be light and no later than 3 hours before bedtime. If you are worried about severe hunger, which prevents you from falling asleep, you can drink kefir with white crackers or eat a boiled vegetable.

When eliminating the symptoms of a hernia, it is important to consider the rehabilitation period. For the first two weeks, a strict diet is prescribed, then the food is gradually supplemented with new foods and drinks.

Recommended products during the treatment of incisional hernia:

• kefir, yogurt, cottage cheese, hard cheese;
• buckwheat, rice, oatmeal;
• vegetables and fruits;
• low-fat broths, soups.

hernia surgery

Removal of a hernia of the abdomen will be carried out as planned after the examination and elimination of all contraindications. Hernia repair is performed by open or laparoscopic hernioplasty. In each case, the operation ends with the suturing of the aponeurosis and defect with the patient's tissues or with the installation of a mesh implant. The latter is necessary to strengthen the area of ​​the hernial orifice, so that when the pressure inside the peritoneum increases, the organs do not again come out through the defect.

And even after the removal of a cicatricial hernia, there is a possibility that it will reappear. There are rare cases when one person undergoes more than 5 operations due to frequently recurrent ventral hernia.

Prevention of postoperative hernia

improve the prognosis after surgery:

• proper care of the postoperative scar, regular dressings, antiseptic washing, application of wound healing ointments;
• dieting;
• refusal of hard physical work for 2 months;
• normalization of weight;
• wearing a postoperative bandage;
• timely bowel movements.

After the operation to remove the ventral hernia, all the same preventive and therapeutic measures are prescribed.