Assessing a hernia

Your GP will usually be able to identify a hernia by examining the affected area.

In some cases, they may refer you to a nearby hospitalfor an ultrasound scan to confirm the diagnosis or assess the extent of the problem. This is a painless scan wherehigh-frequency sound waves are used to create an image of part of the inside of the body.

Once a diagnosis has been confirmed, your GP or hospital doctor will determine whether surgery to repair the hernia is necessary.

A number of factors will be considered when deciding whether surgery is appropriate, including:

• the type of hernia some types of hernia are more likely to become strangulated, or cause a bowel obstruction, than others
• the content of your hernia if the hernia contains a part of your bowel, muscle or other tissue, there may be a risk of strangulation or obstruction
• your symptoms and the impact on your daily life surgery may be recommended if your symptoms are severe or getting worse, or if the hernia is affecting your ability to carry out your normal activities
• your general health surgery may be too much of a riskif your general health is poor

Althoughmost hernias won'tget better without surgery, they won't necessarily get worse. In some cases, therisksof surgery outweigh the potential benefits.

Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018

Articles for hernia

Introduction

Read about hernias, which occur when an internal part of the body pushes through a weakness in the muscle or surrounding tissue wall

Types of hernia

Some of the more common types of hernia are described below. Inguinal hernias Inguinal hernias occur whenfatty tissue or a part of your bowel pokes through intoyour groin at the top of your inner

When to seek medical advice

See your GP if you think you have a hernia. They may refer you to hospital for surgical treatment, if necessary. You should go the accident and emergency (A&E) department of your nearest hospita

Assessing a hernia

Your GP will usually be able to identify a hernia by examining the affected area. In some cases, they may refer you to a nearby hospitalfor an ultrasound scan to confirm the diagnosis or assess the e

Surgery for a hernia

There are two main ways surgery for hernias can be carried out: open surgery where one cut is made to allow the surgeon to push the lump back into the abdomen keyhole (laparoscopic) surgery thi

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