Hernia surgery is a subspecialty of visceral surgery, or abdominal surgery. However, this field is becoming increasingly important. This is primarily due to the high number of inguinal hernias, which are by far the most common type of hernia worldwide. But what exactly is a hernia? Quite simply: a gap or tear in the connective tissue through which—in the case of an inguinal hernia—a small section of the intestine slips through the abdominal wall into the groin area.
Hernia surgery encompasses surgical procedures for treating various types of hernias: This ranges from inguinal hernias—which are simply hernias in the groin—to femoral hernias (also known as thigh hernias), umbilical hernias, and incisional hernias, all the way to diaphragmatic hernias.
Incidentally, medical professionals refer to a diaphragmatic hernia as a hiatal hernia. There are also paraesophageal and axial hernias: In a paraesophageal hernia, part of the stomach pushes through the hernial orifice; in an axial sliding hernia, the entrance to the stomach (cardia) moves into the posterior mediastinum. Today, mesh is increasingly used in these surgeries. How does it work? Read on!
General Information on Hernias
Medical professionals use the term “hernias” to refer to all types of visceral or soft-tissue hernias in the abdominal wall. In a hernia, portions of the viscera protrude from the abdominal cavity through a congenital or acquired opening (known as the hernial orifice) in the layers of the abdominal wall.
These protruding parts of the viscera—such as sections of the intestine—are also referred to as hernia contents. They are enclosed by the peritoneum and form a sac-like protrusion, also known as a hernial sac.
Occurrence and appearance of an inguinal hernia © designua | AdobeStock
For an overview and more detailed information on the most common types of hernias and their surgical procedures, see here:
- Inguinal hernias and inguinal hernia surgery,
- femoral hernias and femoral hernia surgery,
- umbilical hernia and umbilical hernia surgery,
- incisional hernias and incisional hernia surgery,
- diaphragmatic hernias and diaphragmatic hernia surgery,
A basic distinction is made between external hernias, which protrude from the body’s interior toward the skin and are palpable and visible from the outside, and internal hernias, which occur within the trunk.
Examples of external hernias include
- inguinal hernias,
- umbilical hernias,
- thigh hernias (femoral hernias) below the inguinal ligament,
- incisional hernias in the area of surgical scars,
- parastomal hernias in the area of colostomies and
- epigastric hernias along the midline of the upper abdomen.
Diaphragmatic hernias (hiatal hernias), on the other hand, are internal hernias.
Overview of Hernia Types
Specialists in Hernia Surgery
Hernia specialists are experienced and qualified surgeons in the field of general and visceral surgery who specialize in the surgical treatment of hernias. Since they regularly perform hernia surgeries for inguinal hernias, hiatal hernias, femoral hernias, umbilical hernias, or other types of hernias, they have proven to possess extensive experience and professional expertise in the field of hernia surgery.
Experienced hernia surgery specialists primarily work at hernia centers certified by the German Hernia Society (DHG) and the German Society for General and Visceral Surgery (DGAV). These are surgical clinics or specialized departments that, as part of a certification process, have been awarded the “DHG Seal of Quality-Assured Hernia Surgery” and/or certified as centers of excellence or referral centers for hernia surgery.
Therapeutic Scope of Hernia Surgery
Hernias are now among the most common conditions treated surgically in Germany. More than 350,000 hernia surgeries are now performed each year in German hospitals.
When it comes to the surgical treatment of hernias, hernia surgery specialists have a broad range of therapeutic options at their disposal. The range of hernia surgery procedures extends from simple suture repair of hernias to abdominal wall reconstructions and abdominal wall replacement using synthetic or biological meshes.
Hernia surgery can be performed either conventionally as an open procedure or minimally invasively using endoscopic or laparoscopic techniques.
Inguinal hernia repaired with mesh using the Lichtenstein technique © Prof. Dr. med. Thomas W. Kraus
How do I find the “best clinic” for hernia surgery?
It is not possible to designate a single clinic as the “best clinic” or “top clinic” for hernia surgery. However, there are certainly doctors and clinics that specialize in the surgical treatment of hernias and have extensive experience. You can find these experts in hernia surgery in the Leading Medicine Guide.
What makes our doctors specialists in hernia surgery?
The Leading Medicine Guide features only select, highly qualified medical experts and specialists in hernia surgery. All hernia surgeons possess a high level of professional expertise and extensive experience in the field of hernia surgery.
