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What started as intense pain and difficulty in having a bowel movement ended in a rare and shocking situation. At 36 years old, Vitor saw his abdomen increase rapidly after undergoing emergency surgery, until he discovered that he had a large abdominal herniawhich grew visibly in about a month.
It all started when he suddenly developed a paralyzed intestine, accompanied by vomiting and intense pain. Even after initial examinations, the problem was not immediately identified. Only in a new hospital did an x-ray reveal the cause: intestinal torsiona serious condition that requires urgent surgical intervention.
The surgery resolved the obstruction, but paved the way for an even greater complication.
Personal file
Abdomen enlarged quickly after surgery
Shortly after the procedure, Vitor began to notice something different. The abdomen began to progressively increase in volume. “I don’t know if it was the surgery or the lack of adequate rest, but the hernia started to grow”, he reports. Without the use of an abdominal belt in the postoperative period, the condition worsened quickly.
In about 30 days, the hernia was already large, visible and causing physical and emotional discomfort. When looking for the doctor responsible for the surgery, he received a recommendation for a new procedure. However, the operation was postponed four times, as the patient had recurrent flu-like symptoms, which prevented anesthesia.
Meanwhile, the problem only progressed.
“I saw it grow and I didn’t know what else to do,” he said. In further attempts, he heard from a professional that he would not be able to handle such a complex case.
If required specialized technique
Only after six months of searching did Vitor find a surgeon willing to take on the challenge. The treatment was under the care of hernia specialist Cássio Gontijo, who explains that this type of complication is relatively common after emergency surgeries.
Severe hernia in the abdominal region was considered complex and difficult to access – Personal archive
“In emergency abdominal surgeries, the incisional hernia rate can reach 30% or even 50%”, he states. The condition occurs when the abdominal muscles do not heal properly after surgical cutting, creating an opening in the abdominal wall.
Preparation before definitive surgery
Due to the size and complexity of the hernia, treatment required careful preparation. The first step was weight loss, which is essential to reduce risks and increase the safety of the procedure.
Furthermore, the team used botulinum toxin, popularly known as botox. “It temporarily paralyzes the abdominal muscles, allowing greater stretching of the muscles and facilitating the closure of the hernia”, explains the doctor. The application was made about a month before surgery.
Another essential feature was the progressive pneumoperitoneumtechnique in which air is gradually introduced into the abdominal cavity through a catheter. The objective is to adapt the body, reduce intestinal swelling and prepare the body for reconstruction.
Brazilian technique avoided the use of screen
During the procedure, doctors opted for a technique developed in Brazil, known as surgery by Alcino Lázaro da Silva. In this method, the hernial sac itself is used to reinforce the abdominal wall, eliminating the need for mesh or prostheses.
“The big advantage is avoiding foreign bodies in the body, maintaining results similar to those of traditional techniques”, explains Gontijo.
The surgery was successful, and Vitor was discharged after a short period of hospitalization.
Recovery and alert
Two months after the procedure, he celebrates simple but significant achievements. “I just wanted to walk again, leave the house and take a shower alone,” he says.
The case draws attention to the risks of incisional hernias after emergency surgeryin addition to reinforcing the importance of correct diagnosis, medical monitoring and the use of specialized techniques in complex conditions.
Source: Metropolises
✍️ Written by ContilNet
