A hernia occurs when an internal part of the body pushes through a weakness in the surrounding muscle (usually the tummy wall).
There are many different types of hernia affecting the abdominal wall, but the commonest are hernias affecting the groin. If you have a hernia, you may notice a lump, which goes down when you lie flat and gets more prominent when you cough.
What is the treatment of a hernia?
The mainstay of treatment is surgery, to put the internal part of the body back in place, and reinforce the tummy wall. We do the reinforcement by placing a mesh (piece of fabric) over the area. This mesh is specially designed to cause your body to scar, and this scar tissue prevents the hernia from coming back.
Do all hernias need treatment?
No! The majority of groin hernias are called inguinal hernias, and they do not need to be repaired unless they are causing you discomfort. There is a type of hernia in the groin called a femoral hernia, and I feel the risk of some harm happening with this type of hernia is greater, so I do repair these routinely, if you are fit for an operation.
What types of hernia do you repair?
I repair hernias by keyhole (laparoscopic) or open surgery. I operate on the all types of abdominal wall hernia:
– Inguinal
– Femoral
– Umbilical
– Incisional
Here is a link that gives you more information on hernias:
Gallstones are usually small stones that form in your gallbladder. Your gallbladder is a sac that lives under your liver. It stores bile, which is a fluid that helps digest your food after you have eaten.
What symptoms can you get from gallstones?
Gallstones are very common, and the majority of people who have gallstones, will not ever have any symptoms from them. However, some people are unfortunate enough to have trouble from gallstones, the commonest being pain at the top of your tummy, particularly after eating. This is called biliary colic.
Other complications can be inflammation of the gallbladder (cholecystitis), inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis), and jaundice, where your eyes and skin can become yellow.
How do you treat gallstones?
If you have had a scan for another reason, and found to have gallstones incidentally, you do not have to have any treatment at all.
If however, you have pain, or another complication of gallstones, then most people who are fit enough for surgery, would be counselled towards having their gallbladder removed, usually with keyhole (laparoscopic) surgery. This is normally done as a daycase procedure, but you may need 2-4 weeks off work afterwards.
There is no medical treatment to get rid of gallstones.
Will I have to change my diet, if my gallbladder is removed?
No, you can eat and drink as normal after the operation. Most people don’t experience any changes, however, some people do say that their bowels become a bit looser after surgery.
Here’s a link with more information of gallbladder disease:
Sebaceous cysts or skin cysts, are mobile bumps lying just under the skin. They are harmless and usually painless, and can be caused by a blocked sebaceous gland OR blocked follicle.
They do not become anything sinister, but they can get infected and cause abscesses.
What is the treatment for sebaceous cysts?
They can be left alone, as the majority will not ever cause a problem. If they have become infected, and caused an abscess, it would be sensible to have it removed, to prevent this happening again.
I can often remove theses cysts while you are awake, by numbing the skin with local anaesthetic. This would be done as a day case, and normally I would put dissolvable stitches in, to close the skin.
You should be able to return to normal activity straight after the procedure
Lipomas
What are lipomas?
Lipomas are soft mobile lumps that lie under the skin. They are caused by an overgrowth of fat cells. They normally grow very slowly, if at all, and usually don’t cause any problems. They are not painful.
Do I need a scan to tell exactly what it is?
Most lipomas are obvious to a doctor and do not need a scan. However, if the lump is over a certain size, or there are any other worrying features, then I would request an MRI (magnetic scan) of the area, to rule out any sinister problem.
What is the treatment of a lipoma?
If it is not causing any problems, it is safe to leave it alone. If you are worried about a sudden increase in growth, or pain within the lump, then it is sensible to see your GP and get a referral to a specialist.
If you are counselled towards treatment, they can usually be removed while you are awake under a local anaesthetic. Any larger lumps, may have to be removed under a general anaesthetic.
You should be able to return to normal activity within 7-14 days, depending on your type of work, and the size and site of the lipoma.
