What Exactly Is A Hernia?

Complications Of Hernias

While most hernias are generally not a life-threatening condition, they have the potential to causes serious complications that require immediate medical intervention. Because a hernia is caused by organ tissue bulging through a weakened muscle, the healthy muscle surrounding it can cause a compression of the consisting organ tissue of the protrusion. If the blood vessels that supply the organ tissue become constricted, the blood supply to the tissue can become obstructed. When the blood supply cannot reach the herniated tissues, they do not receive an adequate amount of oxygen. Without enough oxygen, the cells in the organ tissue of the hernia cannot function and will begin to die. This dying of tissue is called internal gangrene. This issue happens most often to the intestinal tissues involved in inguinal hernias. This complication is especially dangerous because it can cause a section of the intestine to die. When a part of intestine dies, food is unable to be moved through and results in bowel obstruction. A bowel obstruction is life-threatening and can cause death if it is not treated quickly.