This is most common in the abdomen.
Hernia repair surgery may be called ahernioplastyorherniorrhaphy.
Hernia repair surgery is common.It is generally very safe and effective.
Verywell / Hilary Allison
This article looks at hernia repair surgery and its purpose.
What Is Hernia Repair Surgery?
Hernia repair surgery is performed by ageneral surgeon.
It is usually done in a hospital or an outpatient surgical center.
The surgery may be done in adults and children.
It usually takes less than an hour or two.
Hernia repair surgery is done withanesthesia.
The pop in you receive depends on the surgical technique.
It may also depend on if the surgery is an emergency or not.
These may include:
During open surgery, the surgeon makes a cut called an incision near the hernia.
The bulging tissue is returned back into the body through the incision.
The weak muscle that allowed the hernia to occur is then repaired.
It may be stitched back together or, more commonly, patched with a synthetic material called mesh.
During laparoscopic surgery, multiple tiny incisions are made around the hernia.
Long, thin surgical tools are inserted through these incisions.
One of these tools has a camera attached to it.
The camera projects images onto a TV screen.
This lets the surgeon view the inside of the body.
Other tools are used to repair the hernia in the same way as with open surgery.
Robotic surgeryalso involves a camera and the use of very small surgical tools attached to robotic arms.
Open surgery is a more traditional way to repair a hernia.
Laparoscopic surgery is generally less painful and often lets patients recover faster.
Hernia repair may be done laparoscopically, robotically, or with open surgery.
Laparoscopic surgery typically has a faster recovery time.
Contraindications
There are no absolutecontraindicationsto undergoing hernia repair surgery.
This means there are no medical conditions that will exclude you from being able to have hernia surgery.
There may be relative contraindications.
These are circumstances that make extra preparation necessary before it’s possible for you to have the surgery.
These include:
Purposes of Hernia Surgery
Most hernias occur within the abdominal wall.
With these hernias, there is a weakness or tear in the outer abdominal muscles.
These muscles normally keep organs or tissues, like the intestines, inside.
In aninguinalhernia, the intestines or fatty tissue bulges through the abdominal muscles in the groin area.
About 75% of all hernias are inguinal.
These are most common in biological males.
Another pop in of abdominal wall hernia is afemoralhernia.
These occur a bit lower in the groin than inguinal hernias.
They are more common in biological females, and carry higher risks if not repaired.
This might happen when you’re lifting something heavy.
It might also happen when you’re straining to have a bowel movement.
Reducible hernias return inside the body when the pressure is gone.
You may also be able to push them back with gentle pressure from the outside.
These hernias are not considered an emergency, but still require a surgical repair.
Incarcerated Hernia
An incarcerated hernia remains in the “out” position.
It can’t be pushed back.
These hernias can become strangulated.
This means the bulging tissue loses blood flow.
This can be life-threatening and requires emergency surgery.
Irreducible hernias can lead to permanent damage.
For example, 15% of boys with an irreducible hernia will experience testicular damage and atrophy.
Surgeons recommend hernia repair surgery for most hernias.
This will improve symptoms and prevent hernia incarceration.
In certain cases, watchful waiting may be recommended.
This means your doctor may want to monitor your condition for a while before making a decision about surgery.
You will spend a few hours there while the anesthesia wears off.
When symptoms like pain are under control, you will be able to go home.
double-check to follow your surgeon’s post-operative instructions.
This will help optimize healing and prevent complications.
The main benefit of surgery is that, in most cases, it fixes the problem.
You should not have pain, discomfort, or a visible bulge.
In most cases, the long-term prognosis for people who have hernia surgeries is good.
In the long term, your surgeon will want you to stay healthy.
If you have any persistent symptoms, especially pain, let your surgeon know.
If you are obese, your surgeon may recommend losing weight topreventa recurrence.
Summary
A hernia is when tissue or an organ bulges through a weak area of muscle.
Hernia repair is a surgery that can correct this problem.
Hernia repair surgery is more urgent when the hernia is incarcerated or permanently in the out position.
Surgery can prevent the hernia from becoming strangulated.
Some hernias may not require surgery, at least initially.
Your healthcare provider may recommend watchful waiting instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
A hernia will not heal on its own.
Left untreated, a hernia will become larger and can cause serious health problems.
The hernia can become trapped or incarcerated.
It may become strangulated, cutting off blood flow to the trapped tissue.
This can be a life-threatening emergency.
All surgical procedures carry risks.
Hernia surgery is typically not complicated.
The risk of death generally is very low.
The chance of complications is higher after emergency hernia surgery than it is after scheduled surgery.
The main risks associated with hernia surgery are:
Recovery can take a few weeks.
If the surgery was performed laparoscopically, healing could take as little as a week to two weeks.
Open hernia surgery will take longer to heal.
It typically takes three weeks to a month to recover from open hernia surgery.
Generally speaking, no.
Hernias require surgical treatment.
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