The most common hernia surgery involves fixing the weakened area of muscle. It helps reduce discomfort and the risk that part of your intestine gets trapped in this space, which is dangerous and requires emergency surgery.
For most hernias, your surgeon uses mesh to fix the weakness in the stomach muscle. This can be made of plastic or a material that slowly absorbs into the body. Contact Copper Mountain Surgical for professional help.
Hernias happen when part of your internal organ or tissue pushes through a weak area in your muscle wall. The most common hernias are in your abdomen. You may have an inguinal hernia, in your groin; a femoral hernia, in the crease near your thigh; or an umbilical hernia, in the navel (belly button). Your doctor will treat any hernia that causes symptoms, which include pain that changes with activity and a bulge you can feel.
There are different types of hernias, and they need to be treated differently. If you have an inguinal hernia, your doctor will probably recommend surgery to repair the weakness in the muscle that allows the hernia to form. Your doctor will decide what type of hernia repair to use, depending on its size and location.
A hernia may be reducible or irreducible. A hernia that is reducible means that the contents of your hernia sac can be returned to their normal place in your abdominal wall. A hernia that is irreducible means that the contents of your hernia cannot be returned to their proper place in your abdominal wall. If your hernia is irreducible, your doctor will need to do more advanced surgery to get the tissues in your abdomen back into their normal position.
Usually, you will need to be under general anesthesia for hernia surgery. But a surgeon can perform a laparoscopic hernia repair with local anesthesia in certain patients. In this minimally invasive procedure, the surgeon uses a thin tube with a camera, called a laparoscope, to see inside your body. The surgeon then inserts other tools through small incisions. Unlike traditional open surgery, laparoscopic hernia repairs are less traumatic to the stomach and body.
If you have an incisional hernia that appears at the site of a previous operation, it is important to go to the hospital for a hernia repair procedure. These hernias can be dangerous if left untreated. Your doctor will use a technique called component separation to put your abdominal muscles and tissues back in place. This can be difficult to perform, but it reduces the chances of hernia recurrence.
Hernioplasty
This is an operation to repair a hernia that has become enlarged or swollen. It is usually carried out under general anaesthesia but may also be done using regional, spinal or local anaesthesia (where only a small area of your body is numbed). You’ll receive pre-procedure instructions from the surgeon and will have to stop eating or drinking beforehand. Some medicines, such as blood thinners, may need to be stopped before surgery as they can affect your ability to clot blood.
Your surgeon will make a cut or cuts near the hernia. They’ll pump air into your tummy (as part of keyhole surgery) or through a thin, flexible tube with a camera on the end (a laparoscope). They’ll then find and gently push the contents of the hernia back into the abdomen. In most cases, they’ll put a piece of mesh over the weak spot to reinforce it and prevent the hernia from pushing out again.
During laparoscopic hernioplasty, there is less chance of complications than with traditional open surgery. This is because fewer incisions are made and there’s less damage to tissues. This also means you’ll have a shorter hospital stay.
Most people can get out of bed within an hour after hernioplasty and go home the same day. However, you might need to stay in hospital for a few hours if you have problems passing urine or you have a large hernia that needs to be fixed immediately.
Your surgeon will give you pain relief and ask you to avoid lifting heavy things or moving quickly from lying down to standing up as this can increase pressure in your groin and belly. You should drink plenty of fluids and eat plenty of fibre to prevent constipation. Your surgeon will advise you on when it’s safe to return to your normal daily activities.
Laparoscopic Hernia Surgery
During laparoscopic hernia surgery, the surgeon makes three to four small incisions around the site of the hernia. Through one of the incisions, a camera called a laparoscope is inserted to visualize the hernia on a monitor. The other incisions allow long thin miniature working instruments to be inserted to repair the hernia from inside.
This method has advantages over conventional open hernia surgery, including less pain, faster recovery, and fewer complications. However, long-term recurrence rates are similar between the two methods.
Unlike open hernia surgery, in which the surgeon must make an incision to get to the hernia, laparoscopic hernia surgery is performed under general anesthesia. This means that you will be asleep during the procedure.
To begin the operation, a trocar is placed at the umbilicus and gas is inflated to separate the peritoneum, or lining of the abdomen, from the overlying muscle. A camera is inserted to locate the hernia hole in the muscle, which can be either lateral (indirect inguinal hernia) or towards the center from the blood vessels (direct inguinal hernia). The hernia sac and tissue are removed through the hernia hole, and a small piece of mesh is placed to cover the area.
A hernia can return right after surgery if the mesh is not securely attached to the muscle or the hernia hole in the muscle wall is too large. The surgeon may try to fix this problem by using another piece of mesh or by performing a technique known as a “tension free repair.”
Occasionally, patients develop a lump or swelling in the place where their hernia used to be. This is usually caused by fluid filling the space where the hernia was and is a normal part of the healing process. Often this will disappear on its own, or the surgeon can aspirate it in the office with a needle.
Patients with hernias that are too large for minimally invasive hernia surgery may be candidates for open hernia surgery. It is important to discuss this with your doctor. They will use their best judgment to determine whether open hernia surgery is safe for you.
Incisional Hernia Surgery
Incisional hernia surgery can be performed using open or laparoscopic techniques. In the latter case, your surgeon will make several small cuts on your abdomen and insert tubes (ports) into your abdominal cavity. These ports will then be inflated with gas (carbon dioxide). This allows your surgeon to see inside your abdomen and to perform the hernia repair. The surgical site will be covered with a synthetic mesh to strengthen the weak area of your abdominal wall.
Hernias occur when part of your intestine or other organ pushes through the weak spot in your abdominal wall. These hernias can be a nuisance, but they can also be dangerous if the protruding portion of your intestine gets trapped in the hernia pouch and swells up. This is a life-threatening situation and requires immediate attention. Your doctor will check for a hernia during your physical examination and may order imaging tests such as an ultrasound or CT scan to examine the tissues in your stomach and abdomen.
People who have had abdominal surgeries are at higher risk for incisional hernias, especially those involving a large incision. They can become particularly susceptible to hernia formation three to six months after the operation, as this is when the abdominal tissues are healing from the incision.
During hernia surgery, your surgeon will try to reduce the risk of complications as much as possible. However, there are some risks associated with any surgery including infection, blood loss and injury to the bowel.
Your surgeon will discuss the risks and benefits of hernia surgery with you before your operation. He or she will also review your medical history and discuss any medications you are taking. You should be able to resume normal activity within a few days after hernia surgery, although it is important to take it easy and to avoid lifting or straining. If you develop a hernia after your surgery, you should contact your surgeon immediately.
After the operation, you can expect some pain and discomfort for a few weeks. You may be given prescription or over-the-counter medication to help control the pain and discomfort.