Hernia - Go for Surgery or No?

Digestive health
1

Hello,

May 2016: My mom went through an emergency surgery for colorectal cancer. Got a colostomy bag. June ~ Oct 2016: Went through Capox Chemo Dec 2016: Went through Colostomy closure surgery. Developed Hernia due to the incision.

Doctor says get surgery done and get the mesh.

But, she also consults another lady who specializes in herbal medicine who said that if there is no pain then no need to do surgery.

I feel the same way. There is no guarantee that after the mesh, hernia won't come back.

I have known 2~3 other cases where the people have had hernias for years and didn't do surgery.

I live in a lot of stress because of this. Please advise.

Thanks, Shilpa

2

I had inguinal hernia 3 years ago and I was offered either watchful waiting or surgery.

My doctor told me that in most cases, hernia repair is considered elective surgery, and that watchful waiting is a safe strategy for hernia treatment.

Under watchful waiting the patient is in the driver’s seat, and can decide to undertake surgery later should the hernia become too painful, unsightly, or bothersome, affect quality of life, or if they just get too worried about the risk.

The major risk for watchful waiting is that the hernia may become strangulated which would be an emergency situation. My hernia was reducible, meaning that it could be easily pushed back in place, and had low risk for incarceration. Despite this, I chose the operation with mesh and have had no problems. I was 65 at that time.

If you are elderly, another factor to consider is your age at diagnosis, and what your age may be if surgery is required. This is because if you choose watchful waiting, and then have the operation many years later, the operation will more complicated and risky because of your advanced age. Operations are more risky in your 70’s than in your 60’s, and in you 80’s than in your 70’s, and so on.

I found two research papers that focused on whether or not watchful waiting was an acceptable treatment option specifically for incisional hernias. They both came to the conclusion that watchful waiting is an acceptable treatment option.

One study involved 255 patients, the second 529 patients. The studies tracked the patients for about 5 years, the average of watchful waiters that eventually had surgery was 26%.

The number of Emergency Surgeries was small, but significant, with an average of 6% requiring emergency surgery. All of the emergency operation patients survived.

So if the odds above are accurate, if your mom chooses watchful waiting, she will have a 26% chance of having the surgery anyhow, and a 6% chance of requiring an emergency operation.

Overall, if it was me, and I had gone through what your mom has gone through, I would choose watchful waiting.

Good luck

3

Hi doug2243,

Thanks so much for your detailed reply. I think the data and studies you mentioned have been very helpful for me.

I also feel that watchful waiting is the best way. But, I wanted to seek advise on it for my piece of mind.

I think my mom has gone through a lot already and hernia surgeries have no guarantee that they will fix everything which is why I am not too much in favor of it.

I really appreciate you taking the time.

Thank you very much :slight_smile:

4

i suppose it depends on how big it is and whether it bothers her. mine was BIG sick of people asking me when i was due so i fought the NHS for the surgery and won. surgery was done june 7 and my big alien baby is gone although i am still anxious due to the recivery .

i am only 50 and still have a life ahead of me thats why i fought it. if it doesnt bother her why go through it 路

5

You need an experience surgeon to do the work to prevent it come come back. If the hernia doesn’t cause any pain is fine. However you need to keep an eye on it just in case it grow larger. Personally, i will have it done and get on with life. Make sure you request for bio mesh.