“How long can you wait to have hernia surgery?”
I was diagnosed with an abdominal hernia. How long can you wait to have hernia surgery?
6 Answers
If you do not have symptoms and your hernia is not increasing in size, there is no urgency to have surgery. Increasing symptoms and increase size would be reasons to have surgery sooner.
If you do not have symptoms and your hernia is not increasing in size, there is no urgency to have surgery. Increasing symptoms and increase size would be reasons to have surgery sooner.
This really depends on the size, location, and symptoms you are having. Smaller hernias, between 2-3 cm, are the most likely to cause a problem. Very small hernias, less than 2 cm, or large hernias, greater than 5 cm are unlikely to cause intestinal obstruction or strangulation. Inguinal hernias are equally unlikely to cause these problems, with an average risk of about 1% per year.
If there is pain, schedule ASAP, a high risk for gut incarceration and strangulation.
There is no set waiting time. As long as you find a good surgeon, you can have it as soon as possible.
You can wait as long as you want to. However, you risk it getting worse even strangulation of the bowel. Not all hernias contain bowel so you really want to consult a surgeon before making a decision.
