General Surgery Conditions
Hernias
What is a hernia?
Hernia occurs when fat and/or bowel protrudes through a gap in the abdominal wall. There are different types of hernias depending on where it occurs or what has caused the hernia. Types of hernias include inguinal hernia, femoral hernia, epigastric as well as ventral hernias. Incisional hernias can develop anywhere on the abdomen where previous surgical incision has been made.
What symptoms might I experience with a hernia?
Hernias may be not cause any symptoms and picked up on examination and/or imaging done for other reasons. A lump maybe felt at the site of hernia, with or without pain/discomfort. When bowel or fat gets caught in the hernia, it can cause worsening of pain along with nausea, vomiting, bloating and constipation. This often necessitates urgent treatment. You should attend your nearest emergency department in these situations.
What is the treatment for a hernia?
Not all hernias require treatment. Those that require surgery, it can be done via an open or keyhole (laparoscopic) approach under general anaesthesia. Mesh is routinely used to reduce the risk of recurrence. Your surgeon can provide a tailored treatment after a thorough assessment.
Gallstones
What are gallstones?
A gallbladder is sac like structure that sits under the liver on the right upper side of the abdomen. It stores bile that the liver produces. Normally, bile salts, cholesterol and proteins remain in balance, keeping bile in a thin liquid state. When this balance is interrupted, stones can form, such as with high cholesterol levels. These stones are called gallstones.
What symptoms might I experience with gallstones?
Gallstones may not cause any symptoms. However, it can also cause a variety of symptoms. When gallstones block the drainage tube of the gallbladder, it may cause pain in the right upper abdomen especially with having a fatty meal (biliary colic). Nausea and vomiting may also occur. This pain may resolve after some time.
When this progresses to acute inflammation of the gallbladder, unremitting pain maybe experienced (acute cholecystitis) which often requires emergency surgery to treat the inflammation. The severity of inflammation and risk of subsequent infection is variable.
Stones from the gallbladder may also move out into the common bile duct (main drainage tube of the liver) and cause blockage. You may experience yellowing of the eyes, itchy skin, dark urine and pale stools. This may be associated with infection which can be life threatening. It may also cause inflammation of the pancreas (acute pancreatitis).
What is the treatment for Gallstones?
Surgery is typically recommended once gallstones start to cause problems. This is usually done via a keyhole approach (laparoscopic cholecystectomy). Sometimes, when a stone is stuck in the common bile duct, an additional procedure called endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatoscopy (ERCP) may be required to remove the stone before or after surgery.
