Hernia

Also called: Enterocele

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Summary

A hernia happens when part of an internal organ or tissue bulges through a weak area of muscle. Most hernias are in the abdomen.

There are several types of hernias, including

Inguinal, in the groin. This is the the most common type.
Umbilical, around the belly button
Incisional, through a scar
Hiatal, a small opening in the diaphragm that allows the upper part of the stomach to move up into the chest.
Congenital diaphragmatic, a birth defect that needs surgery

Hernias are common. They can affect men, women, and children. A combination of muscle weakness and straining, such as with heavy lifting, might contribute. Some people are born with weak abdominal muscles and may be more likely to get a hernia.

Treatment is usually surgery to repair the opening in the muscle wall. Untreated hernias can cause pain and health problems.

Start Here

Hernias (Nemours Foundation)

Treatments and Therapies

Hernia Surgical Mesh Implants (Food and Drug Administration)
Laparoscopic Inguinal Hernia Repair (Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons) Also in Spanish
Laparoscopic Ventral Hernia Repair (Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons)

Related Issues

Sports Hernia (Athletic Pubalgia) (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - PDF
Treating and Preventing Sports Hernias (American Osteopathic Association)

Specifics

Inguinal Hernia (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
Umbilical Hernia (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)

Genetics

Genetics Home Reference: abdominal wall defect (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: congenital diaphragmatic hernia (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: Fryns syndrome (National Library of Medicine)

Health Check Tools

Groin Swelling (DSHI Systems)

Clinical Trials

ClinicalTrials.gov: Hernia (National Institutes of Health)
ClinicalTrials.gov: Hernia, Diaphragmatic (National Institutes of Health)
ClinicalTrials.gov: Hernia, Inguinal (National Institutes of Health)
ClinicalTrials.gov: Hernia, Umbilical (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

Find an Expert

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Search for SAGES Members (Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons)

Children

Diaphragmatic hernia repair - slideshow (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Facts about Gastroschisis (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
Facts about Omphalocele (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
Gastroschisis repair - slideshow (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Hernias (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Inguinal Hernia (American Academy of Pediatrics) Also in Spanish
Omphalocele repair - slideshow (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Umbilical hernia repair - slideshow (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Teenagers

Hernias (Nemours Foundation)

Patient Handouts

Diaphragmatic hernia (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Diaphragmatic hernia repair - congenital (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Femoral hernia (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Femoral hernia repair (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Gastroschisis (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Gastroschisis repair (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Hernia (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Inguinal hernia repair (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Umbilical hernia (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Umbilical hernia repair (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Ventral hernia repair (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish