Dr Harsh Shah
MS, MCh (Surgical Gastroenterology), DrNB (Surgical Gastroenterology)
Registered with Gujarat Medical Council, Reg. No. G-38738
Hernia Surgeon · Dr. Jivraj Mehta Hospital, Vasna, Ahmedabad
In short
- Yes. Most people with asthma have a hernia repair safely. What matters most is that the chest is calm and controlled on the day.
- Keep using your regular inhalers before and after surgery, and bring all of them to hospital, including the reliever you carry.
- If your asthma flares up before the date, tell the team. A planned repair is usually moved until your breathing has settled.
Asthma is common, and so are hernias. Many people with asthma need a hernia repair at some point. Some have another long-term chest problem, such as COPD.
This page explains how your chest is prepared, how your inhalers are used, and how to protect your breathing and the repair afterwards.
Why a calm chest matters
Anaesthesia and pain can make breathing a little harder for a day or two. A chest that is already tight copes less well. A wheezy chest also means more coughing, and coughing pushes on the fresh repair.
So the aim is simple. Your asthma should be as calm as it can be on the day of surgery.
Before the operation
Tell your surgeon how often you need your reliever, how often you wake at night, and whether you have needed steroid tablets or a hospital visit for asthma recently.
Use your preventer inhaler every day as advised. If you smoke, stopping before surgery helps your chest a great deal.
Asthma around a hernia repair
Asthma around a hernia repair
| When | What to do | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Weeks before | Use your inhalers every day as advised | A calm chest on the day |
| If it flares | Tell the team early | The date can be moved safely |
| Day of surgery | Take your usual inhalers, bring the reliever | Fewer breathing problems |
| First days after | Deep breaths and walking | Clears the lungs |
| When you cough | Hold a pillow over the wound | Less strain and pain |
Have asthma and a hernia? Bring all your inhalers and your last chest reports to the first visit.
If your asthma flares up
A cold, a chest infection or a bad week of wheezing before the date is worth a call to the team. A planned hernia repair can wait a few weeks. It is safer to operate when your chest has settled.
A hernia that is stuck, hard or very painful cannot wait. That is an emergency, and your asthma is managed alongside it.
The day of surgery and the anaesthesia
Take your usual inhalers that morning. Bring all of them, including your reliever. The anaesthetist will listen to your chest and talk you through the choices.
For some groin repairs, a spinal anaesthetic is an option. The anaesthetist decides with you, based on your chest and the type of repair.
Breathing well after surgery
Take a few slow, deep breaths every hour while you are awake. Walk on the same day if you can. Both help to keep the lungs clear.
When you need to cough, hold a pillow over the wound. Call the team if you are more breathless than usual or your reliever is not helping.
Frequently asked questions
Can a person with asthma have hernia surgery?
Yes. Most people with asthma have hernia surgery safely. What matters most is that the chest is calm on the day.
Should I take my inhalers on the day of surgery?
Yes, usually. Take your regular inhalers as normal and bring all of them, including the reliever, to the hospital.
What if my asthma flares up before the date?
Tell the team. A planned repair is usually moved until the chest has settled. It is safer for you and the repair.
Will coughing damage the repair?
A cough rarely does. Support the wound with a pillow or your hands when you cough, and keep using your inhalers.
Is spinal anaesthesia better for asthma?
Sometimes it is an option for a groin repair. The anaesthetist chooses with you, based on your chest and the repair.
Related pages
The main page on this site is hernia surgery in Ahmedabad. These cover the neighbouring questions.
Where to find us
Dr Harsh Shah, MS, MCh (Surgical Gastroenterology), DrNB (Surgical Gastroenterology)
Dr. Jivraj Mehta Hospital, Vasna, Ahmedabad
Bring your reports. Second opinions are welcome.