What is Femoral Hernia?
Femoral Hernia
The muscles of the human body will have weak spots. These weak spots may be congenital, caused because of trauma, underlying conditions, or because of an aftereffect of surgery. When these weak spots are present in the body, there is a possibility that the fatty tissue or internal organs might push through and protrude outside. These are often painful. This condition is called a hernia. Hernias are of different types. Inguinal hernia, incisional hernia, femoral hernia, umbilical hernia, etc are the main types of hernias seen in people. A femoral hernia occurs when the intestine protrudes into the canal, interrupting the flow of the femoral artery towards the upper thigh. Women are more likely to have femoral hernias than males. They’re more common in pregnant or obese women.
Open surgery and Laparoscopic surgery
A femoral hernia is also called a femorocele. Femoral hernias are not as common as inguinal hernias. Femoral hernias are found more in women. In the majority of the cases, this type of hernia does not cause symptoms. However, femoral hernias are capable of causing serious complications. If the hernia is cutting off the circulation to the intestines, it can be problematic. Such hernias are often referred to as strangulated hernias. Strangulated hernias require instant medical attention and surgery is performed to resolve them.
- PROCEDURE NAME : Open surgery and Laparoscopic surgery
- SURGERY TYPE: Minimally Invasive LASER
- HOSPITALIZATION: No Hospitalization
- SURGERY DURATION: 30 minutes
- ANAESTHESIA:Spinal Block / General Anaesthesia
- FULL RECOVERY: 3 - 4 days
TREATMENTS
Diagnosis
It is important to diagnose femoral hernia as soon as possible because it can lead to dangerous complications. Hernias are usually easy to detect because they are visible to the naked eye. A tiny lump will appear on the person’s affected area. The location where the lump is located will be examined by the doctor. The medical practitioner will urge the patient to cough after a thorough examination to see how it affects the lump. Doctors have used CT scans, MRIs, or ultrasound scans to accurately assess hernias and see if the femoral hernia has become incarcerated.
Surgery
In the case of femoral hernias, surgery is advised. The femoral hernias can become strangulated and obstruct the blood flow to the intestines. This can cause life-threatening complications. A strangulated femoral hernia requires immediate medical treatment. There are two main surgeries that are done to treat hernias; open surgery and laparoscopic surgery. In open surgery, the skin in the affected area is cut and then the tissue that is protruding out is set back into place and then the health care professional tends to the weakened fascia by stitching it back up. Most of the time, some sort of mesh is used to secure the area and provide extra support. If the muscle weakness is massive, the doctor must use a piece of nylon mesh and stitch it up so that the hernia will not push through again. Laparoscopic surgery is also an alternative to treat hernias. The laparoscopic procedure is very similar to open surgery. However, instead of cutting the skin, minute incisions are made on the skin, and the surgical tools are inserted through the incisions to complete the procedure by setting the protruding tissue into place. The surgery for a femoral hernia is relatively safe, however, undergoing any medical procedure carries a certain degree of risk. Some of the main complications that might happen when a patient undergoes surgery for a femoral hernia are; blood clots, sustaining an injury to the surrounding internal organs, bruising or bleeding at the surgical site, infections, etc. In the majority of the cases, the surgery should get rid of the hernia and the chances of it coming back are slim.
Causes
- Chronic constipation
- Painful bowel movements
- Nausia
Symptoms
- Discomfort while sitting
- Swelling & Itching
- Painful bowel movements
- Excessive Bleeding
Frequently Asked Questions
Do femoral hernias require medical attention?
Yes. Femoral hernias can lead to life-threatening complications. Seek medical help if you have a femoral hernia.
Can femoral hernias become strangulated?
Yes. There is a high chance that the femoral hernia might get strangulated. This is a serious condition where the hernia cuts off the circulation to the intestines.
What kind of surgery is done to repair a femoral hernia?
There is open surgery and laparoscopic hernia repair that can be done to get rid of a hernia.
Who is more likely to experience a femoral hernia?
Women are likely to get femoral hernia more than men.
Is femoral hernias common as inguinal hernia?
No. Femoral hernia happens rarely as compared to inguinal hernias.
