Which department should adults visit for hernia?

Adults with hernias can visit departments such as general surgery, hernia and abdominal wall surgery, gastrointestinal surgery, urology, or emergency medicine, depending on the type, location of the hernia, and urgency of symptoms. If a hernia suddenly becomes incarcerated with severe pain, immediate medical attention at the hospital's emergency department is required.

1. General Surgery: A common clinical department that diagnoses and treats most typical hernias, such as inguinal and umbilical hernias. Through physical examination and imaging like ultrasound, the condition can be accurately assessed, and standard hernia repair surgeries performed. Suitable for patients with stable hernia symptoms.

2. Hernia and Abdominal Wall Surgery: A specialized department dedicated to hernia diagnosis and treatment, with extensive experience in managing complex or recurrent hernias. Surgical procedures are more precise, optimizing abdominal wall reconstruction and helping reduce the risk of postoperative recurrence.

3. Gastrointestinal Surgery: For hernias related to prior gastrointestinal surgeries—such as incisional hernias or parastomal hernias—this department comprehensively evaluates the patient’s surgical history. Hernia repair is performed while preserving gastrointestinal function and minimizing disruption to intra-abdominal organs.

4. Urology: When the hernia is located near the genitourinary system or may compress the bladder or ureters, urological function can be simultaneously evaluated. This ensures urinary structures are protected during hernia treatment, enhancing safety.

5. Emergency Department: Appropriate for urgent cases such as irreducible hernia incarceration accompanied by severe pain, nausea, and vomiting. The emergency team can rapidly initiate life-saving interventions and perform timely surgery to relieve incarceration, preventing serious complications such as bowel necrosis.

Daily care includes avoiding prolonged bending, pressing gently on the abdomen when coughing to reduce intra-abdominal pressure, eating a light diet low in spicy foods, maintaining regular bowel movements, wearing loose clothing to minimize friction at the hernia site, and seeking prompt medical attention if any abnormal changes in the hernia are noticed.