A hernia can occur in an individual at any age. This protrusion of body tissue is the result of a section of the intestine, abdominal tissue or other organ being forced out of place. A spigelian hernia, or lateral ventral hernia, is the rarest type of hernia. Often difficult to diagnose, a spigelian hernia can have serious complications if left untreated.
What Causes a Spigelian Hernia?
A spigelian hernia, like other types, can result from an innate defect of connecting tissue, heavy lifting, sport activities, obesity, coughing, pregnancy, post-surgery infection, abdominal fluid, and straining during urination or bowel movement. Heredity is also a factor in the probability that an individual will develop a spigelian hernia. The lower quadrant of the abdominal wall weakens as the condition progresses due to the passage of time and the pressure of activities.
Symptoms and Diagnosis
The scope of symptoms along the lower abdominal wall can include tenderness, pain, and a protruding mass, or tissue. Vomiting and nausea is likely if the herniated tissue is causing a bowel obstruction. Persistent pain with a bowel obstruction may be a sign of a strangulated hernia. This reduces blood flow to the intestine and requires medical attention to prevent the bowel from becoming gangrenous. If the condition is congenital, it becomes more apparent when a child is upset or cries. Diagnosing a spigelian hernia is usually difficult due to the high occurrence of confinement of the painful mass. The primary way of diagnosing is by physical examination, which is followed by an ultrasonography or CT scan. These tests are helpful in avoiding complications.
Treatment
Surgery is required to repair a spigelian hernia, as it is prone to strangulation. Laparoscopic or conventional surgery, through incision, may be performed to put displaced organs back in position once the contents are removed from the hernia for suturing. The injured abdominal wall is reinforced with a surgical mesh to prevent recurrence. If the mesh is not put in place, the hernia will most likely return. Mesh repair is a basic procedure that is highly relied upon. The patient's recovery time is relatively short--about two weeks--and is usually uneventful following either surgical method. The laparoscopic method is favored to minimize chances of infection and reduce the hospital stay. A post-surgery followup examination with the attending physician is common to rule out any complications so normal activities can resume.
