What is a Spigelian hernia exactly? Spigelian hernia is a very rare hernia of the abdominal wall. It occurs along the lateral edge of the rectus muscle and aponeurosis of the transverse abdominous muscle. There are different types of hernia but  Spigelian hernia develops through a weakness between the muscle fibers of the abdominal wall. And mostly this Spigelian hernia confuses with another type of problem abdominally.  

Spigelian Hernia Symptoms

This type of hernia is rare and represents approximately one to two percent of all hernias. And it mostly develops until after the age of fifty, normally on the right side of your abdomen. Surgeon-anatomist Adriaan van den Spiegel of Brussels was the one who described Hernia first, and the first publication about this type of hernia came twenty years after his death in 1645.

Hernia Symptoms

What is Spigelian Hernia?

Spigelian Hernia is known as a hernia that forms through the Spigelian aponeurosis. It is a layer of the abdominal muscles which lies between the lateral edge of the rectus muscle and linea semilunaris. As I mentioned above it is considered a rare type of hernia which occurs in both men and women alike. And often it develops in life when the abdominal muscles are not strong and becoming weak. Sometimes this type of hernia is also sometimes referred to as a “lateral ventral hernia.”  Also, it is considered as the rare type of hernia which occurs in both men and women alike.

Causes And Risk Factors of Spigelian Hernia

There are several kinds of Hernia, so different kinds of hernia have different risk factors and causes. But the causes of Spigelian Hernia are similar to all other types of hernias, which can include:

  • Obesity: Most of the individual is troubled with overweight or obesity and at the same time, the muscles are unable to bear the strain and may subsequently become weak. And moreover, the area of a Spigelian hernia is to such an extent that it makes it even more difficult to be detected and surgically treated in obese people.
  • Physical Strain: Physical work like heavy labor or strenuous exercise may build pressure on the abdominal area and that could result in a Spigelian hernia.
  • Urinary Retention and Constipation: People who suffer from urinary retention suffer from a sense of incomplete voiding and poor flow, in such conditions, they feel the need to exert more pressure than is normally required to urinate or pass bowels.
  • Injury or Trauma: Even the injury or trauma experienced by the individual in the past can also be the result of Spigelian Hernia. And a little pressure is exerted on the abdominal region can develop complications.
  • Coughing, Sneezing, and Vomiting: All these three body reactions can cause a jerk in the entire system and due to these reactions, the abdominal region the most, and can be a cause of a hernia.
  • Heredity: The hernia is connected to weak connective tissues due to genetic straits so that this can be transferred from one generation to the next.
  • Pregnancy: If women have given birth to two or more offsprings, then they’re as multiparous women. And if the mass is found along the linea semilunaris or a focal tenderness is observed that can lead to strangulation and problems in bowel movement resulting in the development of a hernia.

Symptoms of Spigelian Hernia

What does a Spigelian hernia feel like? The symptoms and the pains of Spigelian Hernia vary from one person to another. Below are some Spigelian hernia symptoms that you should be aware of.

  • Pain in the immediate area that reoccurs followed by a period of dull pain that is constant.
  • Obstruction in the digestive path and intestines.
  • Small protrusion in the abdominal area.
  • Difficulty in standing for a prolonged period.
  • Sharper pain when they lift something heavy, twist, or bends.
  • The lump appears when the patient is upright & disappears while lying down.
  • A sudden decrease in the proper function of your bowels.
  • Change in your bowel movements such as changes in the color of the stool, constipation, or diarrhea.
  • If there is bowel strangulation you may experience a lot of abdominal pain, vomiting, nausea, and changes to your stool.
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Soft to touch in people with little body fat.
  • Indigestion

Stomach pain

When To Visit Doctor?

Spigelian hernia is a serious health condition, so immediate medical assistance is needed. It is even difficult to detect the Spigelian hernia and that makes it even more difficult to treat it at the appropriate time. 

What Happens When Spigelian Hernia is not treated?

If Spigelian hernia is not treated it can cause the complication as it can develop in a location you experience bowel strangulation either can lead to the deterioration of both of these organs. Also, complete failure of the organs can happen. Surgery is the most common treatment used to repair the damage the Spigelian hernia has caused.

Tests For Spigelian Hernia

It’s simple to diagnose an ordinary hernia upon completion of a physical examination, at the same time Spigelian hernias are more challenging to diagnose. Some of the tests may include:

  • Computed tomography – This is conducted to show the numerous angles with diverse dimensions.
  • Ultrasound – Which produces high-frequency waves to produce images.
  • Magnetic resource imaging – This helps to find a contract between body tissues and detect the problem.

Following tests are performed to check whether the individual is suited to undergo surgery:

  • Cardiogram
  • Blood test
  • X-ray

Treatments For For Spigelian Hernia

This hernia needs to be surgically removed because Spigelian hernia can cause some complications such as strangulation of other organs, obstruction of bowel movement, and blood supply. With the help of medical treatment, the Spigelian hernia can be recovered. But the only way to recover from it is with the help of surgery, and the surgery may be performed depends on the size and pain caused by the hernia. 

Also, there are two types of surgery is proposed for hernia, they are:

  • Open Hernia Surgery.
  • Laparoscopic Hernia Repair.

Various Surgical approaches to Spigelian Hernia, as follows:

  • Endoscopic approaches: This surgical approach is mainly obtained by using a Veress needle to identify the site affected. Ports are placed at least 10 cm away from the site of the defect in the form of an arc or circle and the defect is placed at the center. Contents from the sac are removed and if a synthetic mesh is required, the adhesiolysis is performed to get an overlap of 5 cm around the defect.
  • Total Extraperitoneal Repair: To perform the endoscopic total extraperitoneal repair, the three midline ports are used. Extraperitoneal space is made by utilizing an inflatable and making open access. A hernia is identified and removed completely. To make sure mesh overlaps, the peritoneum is dissected over the arcuate line keeping up a 5 cm edge from the deformity. The meshes are then fixed to the anterior abdominal wall using spiral tacks.
  • Conventional Approach: An entry point is made over the protrusion. The peritoneal sac is uncovered by making an entry point in the external oblique aponeurosis in the direction of its fibers. Generally, the sac has been reported to contain omentum and is simply inverted.
  • Transabdominal Preperitoneal Repair: First, the substance of the hernia sac is decreased, and the peritoneal fold is raised to lessen the hernia sac totally. Around the hernia defect, the peritoneal sac is dissected 5 cm. Also, a mesh is placed in the extraperitoneal space and it is fixed using tacks or sutures.

Recovery Time After Surgery

You can expect to have a lot of pain after surgery, so the recovery time is about fourteen days. Also, you will be restricted from any heavy physical activity for several weeks so it has a chance to heal.

As I mentioned above the Spigelian hernia is a relatively rare occurrence, and at the same time, it can cause some complications if you left untreated. So all you have to do is get the proper medical treatment to repair the problem and avoid serious, life-threatening complications. Hope you liked this article “Spigelian Hernia Symptoms – How To Identify A Spigelian Hernia?” and find it useful. Are there any questions or if you have any other suggestions and inquiries you can get in touch with me through the comments section.