Questions about hernias? Dr. Gavagan has answers. What is a hernia? A hernia is a defect in the abdominal wall which may allow surrounding tissue such as fat or bowel to squeeze through the weak spot. The most common types of hernia are inguinal, incisional (resulting from previous surgery), ventral (abdominal wall) and umbilical. What causes a hernia? Hernias are caused by a combination of pressure and an opening or weakness in the tough layer of connective tissue overlying the muscle. Sometimes this muscle weakness is present at birth, it may also occur later in life. Common causes of Justine Gavagan, MD General Surgeon hernia occurrence or enlargement include lifting heavy objects without stabilizing the abdominal muscles, prior surgery, smoking, poor nutrition, and/or chronic increase in intra-abdominal pressure such as constipation, diarrhea, chronic cough, and obesity. What happens if a hernia is left untreated? Small hernias that contain only fatty tissue and are asymptomatic may be carefully monitored. I offer repair of any inguinal hernia, and surgery for umbilical hernias is reserved for those that are enlarging or causing symptoms. Recommendations for surgery are tailored by the patient's weight, smoking status, age, activity level, comorbid conditions and symptoms. How long does it take to recover from hernia surgery? Recovery is dependent on age, comorbidities, weight, pre-surgery activity level and the size of the hernia. In general a minimally invasive approach, with small incisions, will offer an accelerated return to regular activities. krh.org KALISPELL REGIONAL HEALTHCARE Questions about hernias? Dr. Gavagan has answers. What is a hernia? A hernia is a defect in the abdominal wall which may allow surrounding tissue such as fat or bowel to squeeze through the weak spot. The most common types of hernia are inguinal, incisional (resulting from previous surgery), ventral (abdominal wall) and umbilical. What causes a hernia? Hernias are caused by a combination of pressure and an opening or weakness in the tough layer of connective tissue overlying the muscle. Sometimes this muscle weakness is present at birth, it may also occur later in life. Common causes of Justine Gavagan, MD General Surgeon hernia occurrence or enlargement include lifting heavy objects without stabilizing the abdominal muscles, prior surgery, smoking, poor nutrition, and/or chronic increase in intra-abdominal pressure such as constipation, diarrhea, chronic cough, and obesity. What happens if a hernia is left untreated? Small hernias that contain only fatty tissue and are asymptomatic may be carefully monitored. I offer repair of any inguinal hernia, and surgery for umbilical hernias is reserved for those that are enlarging or causing symptoms. Recommendations for surgery are tailored by the patient's weight, smoking status, age, activity level, comorbid conditions and symptoms. How long does it take to recover from hernia surgery? Recovery is dependent on age, comorbidities, weight, pre-surgery activity level and the size of the hernia. In general a minimally invasive approach, with small incisions, will offer an accelerated return to regular activities. krh.org KALISPELL REGIONAL HEALTHCARE