A hernia is the protrusion of an abdominal organ (typically the intestine) through a hole in the abdominal wall,. It can occur where the abdominal walls have been weakened by disease or abdominal surgery. The hernia manifests itself in the form of a lump or deformity under the skin and can appear under a surgical scar that had been poorly closed due to bleeding, abscess or excess strain. In general, a hernia does not cause symptoms, but over time may enlarge and cause pain during exercise or after eating. The main complication arises when the intestine is throttled and the blood circulation is cut off. This is known as a strangulated hernia and requires immediate surgery. The operation can be by open surgery or by minimally invasive laparoscopy, and consists of pushing the protrusion back into its correct position and reinforcing the abdomen wall (with existing tissue, , mesh or prosthesis).