What Causes Skin Bulge Beneath Sternum And Difficulty Swallowing?

Posted on Sat, 17 Jan 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 17 Jan 2015 Answered on

Mon, 16 Feb 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : I am 64, male, and had a very successful triple heart bypass 7 months ago. During the last month I have developed an egg-shaped bulge just beneath my sternum and simultaneously started to experience difficulty in swallowing and a hiccoughing reaction, but no actual regurgitation. I think the problem may be an incisional hernia brought about by the bypass surgery. Can this be remedied? I am fit, exercise regularly, and normally enjoy good health. Many thanks for your advice in anticipation.

Answered by Dr. Shoaib Khan (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Surgical repair

Detailed Answer:
Hello sir and welcome.

Thank you for writing to us.

I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. I am really amazed by your knowledge and research. As soon as I reached the second sentence of your query I knew it was a hernia, but to go ahead and find out that you suspected an incisional hernia yourself was really surprising.

Yes sir, you could be right as your description matches that of a hernia. Of course a physical examination may be required for confirmation, which should be conducted by a surgeon.

Remedies or treatment for an incisional hernia are surgical and include the following sir:

+Laparoscopic hernia repair: Most popular, high success rate and minimum complications

+Open repair: Less popular today, moderate failure rate and moderate to high complication rate

I hope you find my response both helpful and informative sir. Please feel free to write back to me for any further clarifications, I would be more than happy to help you sir.

Best wishes.

Note: For further inquiries on surgery procedure and its risks or complications book an appointment now

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar