A hernia occurs when an organ pushes through an opening in the muscle or tissue that holds it in place. Most are common in the abdomen, but can also appear in the upper thigh, belly button, and groin regions. Most hernias are not life threatening, however most do not go away on their own, requiring some form of treatment.

“For those patients who experience a lot of pain, nausea, and discomfort in that area, sometimes surgery is necessary,” said Chris Schneider, M.D. and co-director of the Kettering Health Network Hernia Center at Soin Medical Center.

“In most cases, a hernia repair can be done as outpatient surgery, but for those patients who suffer from a recurrent hernia, a more extensive surgery requiring a larger incision is sometimes necessary.”

However, there are minimally invasive options for people facing this type of surgery.

“Sometimes we can do robotic surgery for these more complex cases that may prevent a hospital stay,” Dr. Schneider added. “At Kettering we have the latest in technology when it comes to robotic surgery. We are thrilled to have this technology available right here in Dayton so that our patients do not have to travel elsewhere to be treated.”

Hernias are caused by a combination of muscle weakness and strain. A hernia can develop quickly or over a long period of time, depending on its cause. Reasons for hernias to occur include age, chronic coughing, damage from injury or surgery. Other causes include being pregnant, being constipated, doing heavy weight lifting, having fluid in the abdomen or gaining weight suddenly or through persistent coughing or sneezing.

“A lot of hernias are caused by obesity, smoking and chronic coughing,” Dr. Schneider said. “Modifying those things putting pressure on the abdominal area can help to prevent hernias.”

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