What Are Incisional Hernias?

Diagnosing An Incisional Hernia

Several techniques are used by a health care provider for diagnosing an incisional hernia. First, the physician usually asks questions about the patient's medical history. The physician will ask the affected individual if they have had abdominal pain, constipation, a lump in the abdomen near a recent surgical site, fever, and nausea. They will inquire about previous surgeries and any complications that occurred with them. The physician will do a physical examination to look for characteristics of an incisional hernia. In some cases, a part of the patient's intestine becomes compressed in the abdominal wall where the incisional hernia is located, and it cuts off the intestine's blood supply. This compression can cause the tissues of the individual's intestine to die. Additional diagnostic tests can be run to check for these life-threatening complications that occur in some cases of an incisional hernia. A blood test can be performed to detect and identify any infections that may have been caused by necrosis or intestinal obstruction. A CT scan, ultrasound, and MRI are diagnostic imaging tests that may be used to help a physician detect any blockages or pinpoint the exact location of the hernia.

Learn about the frequency of incisional hernias next.