Brief Overview about Ventral Hernias

Abstract

A hernia is a protrusion, bulge, or projection of an organ or part of an organ through the body wall that normally contains it. Abdominal wall hernias are typically classified by location or etiology. Hernias come in several types. Most commonly they involve the abdomen, specifically the groin. Most abdominal wall hernias should be evaluated by a surgeon when identified. The nature of the repair depends upon the size and location of the hernia. Abdominal wall hernia is often seen as a straightforward diagnosis with a relatively straight-forward operative treatment. In a minority of cases, however, these patients have a significant undiagnosed underlying pathology which may be missed if not considered. A ventral hernia is defined by a protrusion through the anterior abdominal wall fascia. These defects can be categorized as spontaneous or acquired or by their location on the abdominal wall. Epigastric hernias occur from the xiphoid process to the umbilicus, Umbilical hernias occur at the umbilicus, and Hypogastric hernias are rare spontaneous hernias that occur below the umbilicus in the midline. Acquired hernias typically occur after surgical incisions and are termed Incisional hernias.