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Hernia Surgery

The abdomen is the area between the chest and the hips. The inguinal region is the area of the lower abdominal wall – it’s also called the groin region. An inguinal hernia happens when tissue from the abdomen, fat or part of the small intestine, bulges out through a weak spot in the lower abdominal wall.

There are two types of inguinal hernias; indirect inguinal hernia and direct inguinal hernias. In men, hernias that don’t exhibit symptoms do not need to be repaired. In women, it is generally recommended that hernias be repaired due to the higher rates of femoral hernias which have more complications. Femoral hernias occur when fatty tissue or a part of the bowel passes through a naturally occurring weakness called the femoral canal, just below the inguinal ligament. Femoral hernias usually require emergency surgery due to the high prevalence of complications.

Symptoms

  • A bulge in the area on either side of the pubic bone
  • A burning or aching sensation at the bulge
  • Pain and discomfort when coughing, exercising or having bowel movements
  • Weakness or pressure in the groin, intermittently pain and swelling around the testicles when the protruding intestine descends into the scrotum

Causes

  • Indirect Inguinal Hernias – a congenital defect in the abdominal wall.Direct Inguinal Hernias – caused by weakness in the muscles of the abdominal wall.

Complications

  • Incarceration – When a part of the fat or small intestine becomes stuck in the groin or scrotum and can’t go back into the abdomen.
  • Strangulation – When a hernia is not treated, the blood supply to the small intestine may become obstructed. The strangulation of the small intestine can cause the section of the intestine to die.

Diagnosis​

 

A physical exam / medical and family history, imaging tests for confirmation or to rule out other possible causes, abdominal x-rays, abdominal ultrasound, and CT Scan.

Treatment Options

 

• Open Inguinal Hernia Repair – This technique uses a piece of synthetic mesh to help bridge the hernia defect. Following mesh placement, new tissue grows into the spaces within the mesh to reinforce the repair.

 

• Laparoscopic Hernia Repair – Three small incisions is all it takes.  It minimizes trauma to the patient, and the mesh is placed covering all the potential hernia defects in the area.  This procedure benefits the patient by reducing pain and speeding recovery compared to the open inguinal hernia repair.

 

• Robotic Hernia Repair – Our facilities are equipped with the da Vinci Surgical System (Robot).  The surgeon can operate with enhanced vision, precision, and fine motor control. The physician delivers smaller, more precise movements with tiny instruments minimizing bruising.

Practice Experience

 

Our physicians specialize in Laparoscopy and the use of the da Vinci Surgical System when treating their patients.

Benefits & Advantages of the Da Vinci Surgical System

 

High level of precision, less tissue damage, virtually no scarring due to small size incisions, and lower risk of complications.

 

Minimally invasive, smaller incisions, magnified 3D high-definition vision system, tiny instruments that provide fingerprint precision movements.

Are you a candidate?

Although there are many advantages to Laparoscopic and Robotic Hernia Repair, our qualified physicians will determine which procedure is the most appropriate for you.

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