An inguinal hernia is a defect of the anterior abdominal wall that occurs in a pre-existing weakened spot at the border between the lower abdomen and the thigh. Through this defect, organs protrude from the peritoneal cavity, most frequently causing pain, (especially during physical activity) and predisposing to complications such as strangulation and incarceration. The inguinal hernia has a progressive character, increasing its size over time and thus becoming increasingly more difficult to operate.

The surgical procedure for inguinal hernia is performed under general anesthesia and usually lasts between 60 to 90 minutes. It takes place on the day the patient is hospitalized, discharge following the next day. In a few selected cases, it can also be carried out as day surgery, meaning that the patient is not required to stay overnight.

An umbilical hernia is a defect of the anterior abdominal wall that occurs through the umbilical ring found in the navel area. Patients may experience pain in the periumbilical region caused by the organs in the abdomen. Untreated, the umbilical hernia tends to enlarge and develop complications such as strangulation, intestinal occlusion and skin ulcers.

Surgery is the only proper treatment for this type of hernia.

Hiatal hernia is a specific defect in the diaphragm, which causes the stomach to rise into the chest cavity. Due to the change in the position of the stomach, there are disruptions in the functioning of the lower esophageal sphincter that may cause gastroesophageal reflux disease. Heartburn is the most common symptom of reflux disease.

The operative indication is established together with the gastroenterologist, not all cases of hiatal hernia require surgical intervention. For symptomatic cases that do not respond to treatment, surgery is the only viable alternative.

A femoral hernia is a rarer type of anterior abdominal wall defect that occurs in the region where the thigh joins the lower abdomen, similar to an inguinal hernia. Some of the symptoms of these two hernias can overlap, and a differential diagnosis is only possible by performing an ultrasound during surgery.

Femoral hernia is characterized by the fact that the herniation is found in the proximity of bone and tendinous elements, which predisposes the patient to the early onset of symptoms such as pain but also to complications such as strangulation).

These are usually congenital defects that appear on the midline of the abdomen, in the spot where the two recti abdominis muscles fuse in the form of aponeurosis.

These defects are generally small in size but can frequently cause symptoms such as pain by engaging abdominal organs in the hernial orifice. Surgical treatment involves an incision centered on the hernia, with simple suturing of the defect in the abdominal wall. If the defect is larger, it is necessary to use a prosthesis known as a mesh to strengthen the wall. In this situation, laparoscopic treatment is recommended.

The spigelian hernia is a rare type of hernia that occurs at the lateral edge of the rectus abdominis muscle, in the lower lateral abdomen. It often has the appearance of a swelling and is usually accompanied by pain.

Usually, these herniations are not large in size, but they can easily develop complications such as strangulation or bowel obstruction. The treatment is eminently surgical, the laparoscopic procedure which is also minimally invasive being clearly superior to the classical approach. In cases where the parietal defect is large, the use of a reinforcing prosthesis known as a mesh is required.

Diastasis recti or abdominal separation is the lateral displacement of the two recti abdominis muscles from the midline, the aponeurosis that joins them becoming wider than 2 cm and having a tendency to bulge when the abdomen contracts.

The aponeurosis is intact in these situations, distinguishing the diastasis from a linea alba hernia. The condition is mainly aesthetic in nature, although in some situations symptoms such as pain may also occur. The treatment is generally surgical in nature, in early cases, physiotherapy is useful to some extent. Laparoscopic plication surgery is minimally invasive, ensuring quick recovery and a very pleasing aesthetic result.