hernia EPIGASTRIC HERNIAS {photo} develop in the upper mid-abdomen, usually along the line between the sternum (breast bone) and the umbilicus (navel). Either a congenital weakness (meaning present since birth) or an acquired defect in the abdominal wall exists in this area allowing abdominal contents to protrude through creating a bulge. In addition to the deformity and an associated bulge, the signs and symptoms include pain at or near the area.

herniaEpigastric Hernias can also occur at any time during later life. They cannot "heal" without surgery. These hernias gradually increase in size, often becoming progressively problematic as they enlarge. Incarceration or Strangulation are rare, but may occur on the occasion of large and neglected Epigastric Hernias.

herniaOptimally, Epigastric hernias should be repaired using a 'TENSION-FREE TECHNIQUE.

herniaEpigastric hernias often occur in adulthood because of progressive and significant tension on the area of weakness along the mid-line of the upper abdominal wall. This develops through the normal stresses and strains of daily activity. Standard techniques still widely utilized today attempt to repair these hernias by simply closing the muscle defect with sutures placing the muscle tissue under significant tension. Often in these older method repair techniques, muscle layers are overlapped. Such suturing not only recreates the muscle layer tension that originally created the hernia defect, but too often this process also weakens adjacent tissue layers as well. Moreover, this leads to unnecessary pulling of the tissues at the hernia area. We know that any tension on sutured muscles inhibits normal healing and causes swelling, pain and prolonged recuperation. These older suture-only techniques have been shown to be less effective than Tension Free mesh repairs with a significantly higher recurrent hernia rate later on.