Epigastric Hernia
Primary epigastric hernias are the most common and occur without any previous surgery in the area. They are often small, less than 10-20 mm, and most commonly contain fat. The most common symptom is a soft protrusion along this midline of your abdomen that does not cause any pain. Up to 20% of patients may have 2 or more epigastric hernias along this line. They are more common in people assigned male at birth and are associated with obesity.
Do Epigastric Hernias need treatment?
Not all epigastric hernias need surgical correction. If your hernia is small with no other symptoms the preferred treatment may be observation only, with surgery only considered if your hernia becomes symptomatic over time. The most common reasons for operating on an epigastric hernia is pain, the hernia increasing in size and patient request, in which case you should organise a referral to a Hernia Surgeon. An epigastric hernia that occurs after a previous surgical incision is an incisional hernia. You should be seen by a Hernia Surgeon to discuss the best treatment options for you.
How is an Epigastric Hernia fixed?
The only way to fix an epigastric hernia is with an operation. Commonly this is an incision over the hernia where the hernia defect will be closed and, depending on the size of your hernia, a surgical mesh may or may not be used. For larger hernia defects an open or minimally invasive surgery (MIS or key-hole) operation may be used. Your Surgeon should discuss their recommended operation in detail once it is confirmed an operation is required.
