Hernia Treatment at CritiCare Asia Hospitals, Andheri East, Mumbai
For people looking for a general surgery hospital in Mumbai, CritiCare Asia Hospitals, Andheri East, treats hernias in an organised, step-by-step way. A hernia is a weak spot or gap in the abdominal wall through which fatty tissue or a loop of bowel pushes outwards. The usual first sign is a soft bulge that appears on standing or coughing and goes down when you lie flat, and it will not close without surgery. The General Surgery team offers hernia surgery in Andheri East, Mumbai, from examination to repair and recovery.
Types of Hernia
The surgeon usually identifies the type from where the bulge sits.
- Inguinal
in the groin and the most common type, more often seen in men - Femoral
below the groin crease, more frequent in women and more likely to become trapped - Umbilical
at the navel, in babies and adults alike - Incisional
through the scar of an earlier abdominal operation, where the wall stayed weak - Hiatal
the upper stomach slides through the diaphragm into the chest, often appearing as reflux instead of a lump
Symptoms to Look For
Many hernias are painless, so they can go unnoticed for years. Common signs are:
- A lump that becomes more prominent on standing, straining or coughing
- An ache, burning or dragging feeling at the site, usually worse by evening
- Discomfort while lifting, bending or passing stool
- Heartburn, chest discomfort or trouble swallowing in a hiatal hernia
A hernia can become an emergency if trapped contents lose their blood supply. Reach hospital straight away if the lump turns firm and will not go back, the skin over it turns red or purple, or the pain is sudden and severe. Vomiting, bloating, or being unable to pass stool or wind with a bulge is another warning. Trapped hernias need urgent attention from hernia specialists in Mumbai, and every hour counts.
Causes and Risk Factors
A hernia needs two ingredients: pressure within the abdomen and a wall too weak to hold it. Some people are born with the weak spot, and others acquire it. Pressure builds from:
- A long-standing cough, including a smoker's cough
- Straining with stool or urine
- Repeated heavy lifting
- Excess weight
- Pregnancy
Age, previous surgery at the same site, and family history can all weaken the wall.
Diagnosis
A surgeon can often confirm a hernia on examination, checking you standing and coughing, then lying down. An ultrasound is added for a small lump, an unclear diagnosis, or to see what the lump contains. Complicated or recurrent hernias may need a CT scan.
Treatment Options
Repair surgery is the only treatment that closes a hernia. A small hernia without symptoms may be observed, at the surgeon's discretion after examination. Belts and supports ease discomfort for a while but leave the gap open. Two approaches are used:
- Open repair
one incision over the hernia, with the contents returned and the wall reinforced - Laparoscopic (keyhole) repair
a few small cuts, one carrying a camera, with the surgeon working from a magnified screen image. Smaller wounds often bring less pain afterwards
Mesh is placed over the weak area in most repairs to lower the risk of recurrence. The surgeon chooses between keyhole and open repair according to the hernia's type and size, any earlier recurrence and the patient's general health.
Hernia Surgery: Before, During and After
- Before
The surgeon reviews your history, medicines and previous operations. Blood tests and an anaesthesia check-up follow, and you are told when to stop eating and drinking. Mention blood thinners, and stop smoking beforehand if you can, since it helps healing. - During
The anaesthetist selects the anaesthesia that suits you. The surgeon returns the bulging tissue to its place, closes the gap and reinforces it. - After
Early walking is encouraged, and pain is controlled with prescribed medicines. Avoid heavy lifting and straining until the surgeon clears you, and keep stools soft with fibre and fluids. Keep the wound clean and dry. Contact the team for fever, spreading redness, discharge, a growing swelling at the site, or persistent vomiting. Recurrence is possible if cough, constipation, or weight is left unaddressed.
Hernia Treatment at CritiCare Asia Hospitals, Andheri East, Mumbai
Care at Andheri East is planned so that you spend as little time waiting as the clinical picture allows. A general surgeon examines you, reviews any scans and explains which type of hernia you have and which repair suits it, so decisions are made in one visit where possible.
The surgeon, anaesthetist and nursing team assess your fitness for surgery together, including conditions such as diabetes or heart disease that could change the plan. After the operation, you are monitored in recovery, given written instructions on wound care, activity and warning signs, and seen again to check healing, which gives you a clear path back to work and routine. A trapped hernia is treated as an emergency and assessed without delay. If a bulge or groin ache keeps coming back, book a consultation with general surgeons in Andheri East at CritiCare Asia Hospitals.