In short
Scleroderma makes the skin tight and thick. It can also affect the lungs, heart, kidneys and gut.
A hernia repair is still possible. But the checks before it matter more than usual.
The anaesthetic puts extra load on the lungs and heart. In scleroderma, the lungs can be scarred and the heart can be under strain, sometimes without symptoms.
Your team will ask for a breathing test, a chest scan, an ECG and often a heart scan. Kidney tests and blood pressure checks are added too.
These tests show whether the operation is safe and how to plan it.
Checks before hernia surgery with scleroderma
| Area | Why it is checked | What usually happens |
|---|---|---|
| Lungs | Scarring can reduce breathing reserve | Breathing test and chest scan |
| Heart | Pressure in lung vessels can strain the heart | ECG and heart scan |
| Kidneys | Blood pressure spikes can harm them | Blood and urine tests, pressure watched |
| Mouth and neck | Tight skin narrows the airway | Anaesthetist plans the breathing tube |
| Skin and veins | Cold, tight skin heals slowly | Warm room, gentle handling, careful stitching |
Have scleroderma and a hernia? Bring your rheumatologist's letter and any recent lung or heart test reports.
A hernia that is not causing trouble can wait until the condition is steady. Your rheumatologist may want to treat a flare first.
A stuck or very painful hernia is repaired at once, with the safest anaesthetic that can be given.
Tight skin around the mouth can limit how far it opens. A stiff neck adds to the difficulty. So the anaesthetist plans a safe way to place the breathing tube.
Cold can trigger Raynaud's, where fingers turn white and veins shrink. The theatre and ward are kept warm, and you wear warm socks and gloves.
A drip can be hard to place. Tell the team which veins have worked before.
Many people with scleroderma take medicines for blood pressure, reflux, circulation or to calm the immune system. Bring the full list.
Some of these need to be continued. A few may be timed around the operation. Do not stop any yourself.
If you take steroid tablets, the team may give extra cover on the day.
Tight, thin skin can heal slowly. Keep the wound clean and dry, and keep warm.
Keyhole repair leaves smaller wounds, which suits fragile skin. But it needs gas in the belly, so the lung tests guide the choice.
Reflux can be worse after surgery. Take your reflux tablets as advised and eat small meals.
Call the team for fever, redness or a wound that opens.
Usually yes. Scleroderma can scar the lungs without symptoms, so a breathing test and chest scan guide the plan.
It can. Tight, thin skin heals more slowly, so the team handles it gently and checks it at follow-up.
Either can suit. Smaller wounds help fragile skin, but lung health decides whether gas in the belly is safe.
Keep your hands and arms warm. Tell the team which veins have worked for a drip before.
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