digestive disorders
Abdominal Wall Hernias
Introduction
An abdominal wall hernia is an opening or area of weakness in the abdominal wall through which abdominal contents can protrude. An abdominal wall hernia causes a noticeable bulge but little discomfort. The diagnosis is made by physical examination and sometimes ultrasonography. Treatment involves surgery to repair the hernia. (See also Overview of Gastrointestinal Emergencies .) Abdominal hernias are very common, particularly among men. There are about 700,000 hernia operations each year in the United States. Hernias are usually named for the area in which they occur. The abdominal wall is thick and tough in most places, so hernias usually occur in an area of weakness where a previous opening has closed. Heavy lifting or straining may make a hernia more obvious but does not cause a hernia to form. 