A hernia does not get better over time, nor will it go away by itself. In fact, they usually grow or get worse over time. Hernias can become a serious health threat. There is a risk of developing a problem with incarceration or strangulation of the bowel, which is a surgical emergency.
No. Since ePTFE is one of the most inert and biocompatible polymers available, there has never been a confirmed allergic reaction to a Gore ePTFE product.
Because of the density differences between ePTFE and the rest of the body, high resolution imaging techniques, such as CT and MRI, will reveal ePTFE, both immediately following implant and after ingrowth at longer time frames. X-rays offer a fairly low resolution level and will not show an ePTFE product. Ultrasound can be impeded in the immediate post-operative period until cells and fluids fill the internodal spaces of ePTFE. Once this has occurred, the sound waves can pass through the material and allow imaging below the patch with ultrasound. Prior to this, it may be impossible to image through the product.
A hernia is defined as a protrusion or projection of an organ or a part of an organ through the wall of the cavity that normally contains it. An abdominal wall or ventral hernia often arises in the muscles of the abdomen wall where a previous incision was made. An inguinal hernia occurs in the groin (the area between the abdomen and thigh). It is called inguinal because the intestines push through a weak spot in the inguinal canal, which is a triangle-shaped opening between layers of abdominal muscle near the groin. For more information see About Hernias.