First of all, "a hernia is a defect in the muscle lining of the abdomen that allows abdominal contents to bulge through." Post-operationally hernias can often cause bowel obstruction.
The type of hernia that comes as a complication of gastric bypass surgery can be extremely serious. It can also be difficult to diagnose.
Generally to treat a hernia (which usually forms at the incisions from the gastric bypass surgery) your surgeon will need to recreate the incision and then close it again. In doing so, he will push the bulge back where it belongs and create a better seal so the hernia does not occur again.
The symptoms of a hernia vary but are usually accompanied by severe abdominal pain and fever. Often the hernia will cause a bowel obstruction, so the patient is unable to have bowel movements.
Once a hernia is discovered the surgeon will take necessary steps to operate on the hernia.
Although very painful, hernias are rarely life-threatening, unless misdiagnosed or ignored.
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[...] is another serious complication that can follow gastric bypass surgery. M often, it is caused by an internal hernia at the incisions. Bowel obstructions occur in 4%-5% of gastric bypass surgery [...]