Hernias develop when a part of an organ protrudes through the wall of the cavity that it is meant to be contained in. They generally develop places that are structurally vulnerable, such as where muscles meet or where there are other weak points. Hernias may appear in many different parts of the body.

Hernias are repaired by placing the organ back into its cavity and repairing the tear it went through. This has to be done surgically, and where possible, a laparoscopic approach may be used. The tear is repaired it multiple manners depending on the integrity of the surrounding tissue. Another method may be placing a special mesh that will cover the hole.

As with any surgery there is a possibility of complications, with the most common complication for abdominal hernias being chronic groin pain. Laparoscopic surgeries allow for a reduced likelihood of complications and allows hernia patients to recover and resume with their usual activities more quickly.