Hernia Information for patients General Surgery
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What is a hernia? A hernia is a bulge or weakness in the muscles which form the front of the body wall. They are very common and easily treated, but if left, they will get bigger, cause pain and sometimes cause a blockage in the bowel. How is it treated? The operation is performed under a general, spinal or local anaesthetic. The surgeon makes a cut in the skin, pushes the bulge back into place and mends and strengthens the weak part, normally using nylon stitches or mesh. The cut skin is closed together with dissolving stitches or glue. What are the risks and benefits of having a hernia repair? The benefits include: An improvement in symptoms. The risks are: Bleeding after the operation. Infection of the wound; this is rare and settles after taking antibiotics. Occasionally there is a patch of numbness of the skin, which should get better with time. The chance of the hernia coming back is about 1 in 100. The chance of problems occurring depends upon the operation and your general health. The surgeon will be able to explain how these apply to you before your operation. page 3 of 8
Consent We must seek your consent for any procedure or treatment beforehand. Staff will explain the risks benefits and alternatives where relevant before they ask for your consent. If you are unsure about any aspect of the procedure or treatment proposed please do not hesitate to ask for more information. What can I expect during my stay on the Theatre Admissions Unit? It will be necessary to rest for a while following your operation to allow the effects of the anaesthetic to wear off. Local anaesthetic will have been injected around the operation area, helping to reduce discomfort post operatively. This wears off after a while and there will be some pain, which can be controlled by taking painkillers. What should I look out for when I get home? You will have a dressing over your wound, which needs to be left in place for 24-48 hours after your operation. After this time you can remove the dressing and bath or shower as normal, taking care to dry your wound fully afterwards. You must not use soaps or other products on the wound as this could affect your healing. You may experience some bleeding from the wound site. If this occurs you should apply continuous pressure for about 10 minutes. If it does not stop please contact the Theatre Admissions Unit (TAU) on 0114 226 3908 or NHS 111 if the TAU is closed. If you consider it an emergency, go to your nearest Accident and Emergency Department. Bruising and swelling may be troublesome, particularly if the hernia was large. The swelling may take 4 6 weeks to settle down. page 4 of 8
Remember: If you have had a general anaesthetic or sedation you must have a relative or friend to stay with you for the first 24 hours after your operation. Is there anything I should or shouldn't do? You will be given a letter for the practice nurse at your GP surgery to have your wound checked the week after your surgery. You will need to make this appointment after you have gone home. You should not lift anything heavy or take any strenuous exercise for 6 weeks following your operation. Try to eat a high fibre diet, such as bran, weetabix and oranges. It is important to avoid constipation and straining. There is no strict rule about the time you can resume your normal sex life. As a general guide, some people feel comfortable with gentle activity after about 2 weeks though it may be about 6 weeks before full activity is comfortable. Will the wound be painful? After your operation your wound and the surrounding area will be tender for a week or so. You will be given painkillers to take home; it is important these are taken as prescribed. You should read the instructions provided with the tablets to ensure you do not exceed the maximum dose. page 5 of 8
Who should I contact if I have a problem after my operation? If you have a problem or need advice after going home, please contact the Theatre Admissions Unit between 7.00am and 8.00pm Monday to Friday on 0114 226 9308. Outside of these hours you can also contact NHS 111. If you consider it to be an emergency, go to your nearest Accident and Emergency department. How long will I be off work? Returning to work depends on the nature of your job. If your work involves heavy lifting you should take 6 weeks off. People with more sedentary jobs should take at least 2 weeks off work. If you require a sick note please ask the nurse before going home. When can I drive after my operation? You may drive your vehicle again when your wound feels comfortable. This is usually between 7 10 days after your operation. It is advisable to check with your own car insurance provider. page 6 of 8
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Produced with support from Sheffield Hospitals Charity Working hard to fund improvements that make life better for patients and their families Please donate to help us do more www.sheffieldhospitalscharity.org.uk Registered Charity No 1059043 Alternative formats can be available on request. Please email: alternativeformats@sth.nhs.uk Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 2016 Re-use of all or any part of this document is governed by copyright and the Re-use of Public Sector Information Regulations 2005 SI 2005 No.1515. Information on re-use can be obtained from the Information Governance Department, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals. Email infogov@sth.nhs.uk PD7507-PIL3068 v1 Issue Date: October 2016. Review Date: October 2018