A hernia that reappears after intestinal surgery is known as an incisional hernia. According to Dr. Gregory Dumanian, incisional hernias are quite common — some studies show that hernias can occur up to 20 to 25 percent of the time after bowel or liver procedures. Hernias can even occur in some circumstances after a hernia repair. This is called a recurrent hernia.
But thanks to Dr. Dumanian’s advanced knowledge and surgical techniques, he can repair most incisional hernias and even recurrent hernias with a high success rate.
Read on to learn more about why hernias reappear after surgery and maneuvers taken by Dr. Dumanian to successfully repair all types of hernias — no matter the origin.
Causes of Recurrent Hernias
Hernias can recur because of problems that occur during or after an initial gastrointestinal surgery or after the repair of an existing hernia. The abdominal wall may not have been adequately sutured during the initial procedure. Or, it may not have healed properly because of an infection or because the patient was too active too soon after the procedure.
Other factors like smoking, obesity and chronic cough have been blamed for incisional and recurrent hernias.
Signs and symptoms of incisional and recurrent hernias include a noticeable bulge at the site of the previous surgery. The bulge may or may not be tender to the touch. There may be pain and discomfort around the site of the previous hernia and while straining or exerting oneself. Some patients also experience nausea and/or vomiting from the bowel being trapped in the hernia.
How Is a Recurrent Hernia Treated?
Surgery is needed to repair incisional and recurrent hernias. But repairing a recurrent hernia is more challenging than the initial closure of the abdominal wall. It is important to have all types of hernias treated at a practice where the surgeon has extensive experience with these cases.
How Dr. Dumanian Reduces the Likelihood of a Recurrent Hernia
As hernia surgery has advanced, certain techniques have evolved that make recurrent hernias less of a concern. For instance, the use of surgical mesh to reinforce the abdominal wall has been shown to reduce the chances of recurrent hernia. Hernia recurrence rates are less than 5 percent, according to Dr. Dumanian’s research.
Surgical mesh patches the opening in the abdominal wall instead of simply suturing it together. It also limits the tearing of the tissue by sutures. The mesh has the flexibility to accommodate forces applied to the hernia site as the result of activity after surgery. It redistributes the tension placed on the abdomen, allowing patients to have normal movement after surgery. Although there is the possibility that this foreign device can become infected, Dr. Dumanian’s track record has a very low rate of mesh infection.
Contact Our Hernia Specialist
To learn more about how Dr. Dumanian reduces the risk of recurrent hernias, and how he treats very complex cases of hernia recurrence, please contact our practice today.