What is a midline hernia?

What is a midline hernia?

Midline hernias vary from small ones found within and adjacent to the umbilicus and complex hernias that may arise as a result of poor healing of a wound after surgery – incisional hernias. All of these hernias are repaired using mesh, with the small ones done as day cases and sometimes under local anaesthesia.

What causes a midline hernia?

The primary risk factors are being overweight or having prior pregnancy, either of which can cause an opening in the abdominal muscles to expand over time. Conditions, behaviors and activities that put strain on or weaken the abdominal wall can also cause umbilical or epigastric hernias. These include: Smoking.

What is a midline incisional hernia?

Incisional hernia refers to abdominal wall hernia at the site of a previous surgical incision. It is a type of ventral hernia. Midline incisional hernias are more common than other sites. It can be a definite hernia with all the hernia components of the defect, sac, and content.

Are epigastric hernias always on the midline?

In fact you can get a hernia anywhere down the middle of your abdomen, from navel to breast bone. When they occur a bit higher up they are called epigastric hernias. So these hernias always occur in the midline, straight down the middle, because they come out between the two rectus muscles.

Do ventral hernias have to be repaired?

Ventral hernias cannot heal on their own. Most commonly, ventral hernias are surgically repaired in order to avoid the risk of the intestine becoming strangulated (cut off from the body’s blood supply). Strangulation is considered a medical emergency.

What is a midline incision?

Midline Incision. The midline incision (no. ①) is used for a wide array of abdominal surgery, as it allows the majority of the abdominal viscera to be accessed. A midline laparotomy can run anywhere from the xiphoid process to the pubic symphysis, passing around the umbilicus.