Inguinal Hernia Surgery

The inguinal hernia surgery, also known as inguinal hernia repair, is a procedure where the surgeon will push the bulge back into place and strengthens the weakened abdominal wall to prevent the hernia from recurring.

An inguinal hernia is the most common type of hernia and it happens when part of the intestine protrudes through a weak spot in the lower abdominal muscles. It typically appears as a bulge or swelling in the groin area.

Inguinal hernias can be caused by various factors such as pressure in the abdomen, heavy lifting, obesity, and pregnancy, among others.

When is Surgery Necessary?

Surgery may be suggested if the hernia gets larger, pain increases, and/or if you start to have difficulties doing your daily activities.

Some complications that can be caused by an inguinal hernia include:

·        Obstruction: this happens when a part of the bowel becomes stuck in the inguinal canal. This can cause nausea, vomiting, and pain.

·        Strangulation: this is when a section of the bowel gets trapped and cuts its blood supply. This requires emergency surgery within hours, so the blood supply can be restored.

Types of Inguinal Hernia Surgeries

There are two types of inguinal hernia operations; open surgery and laparoscopic surgery.

Open Surgery

This procedure is typically done under general anesthesia to ensure you are asleep and pain-free throughout the procedure. Local anesthesia may be used in cases where the hernia is small enough.

The surgery begins with your surgeon making an incision in the groin area. This will allow access to the hernia. Then, the hernia will be gently pushed back into the abdomen. If the hernia is particularly large or complex, it may need to be removed.

Following the removal of the hernia, your surgeon may attach a mesh to strengthen the weakened area of the abdominal wall and reduce the chances of another hernia developing in the future.

Once the hernia has been removed, and the abdominal wall has been reinforced, your surgeon will close the incision using sutures.

Laparoscopy

This procedure involves the insertion of a laparoscope, which is a thin tube with a small video camera attached to its end. Several smaller incisions are made, allowing the surgeon to repair the hernia through them.

Recovery After Surgery

Typically, this is an outpatient procedure, meaning you should be able to go home on the same day as surgery, or in some cases, a day after.

After surgery, you will experience some pain and discomfort in your groin area. You should be provided with instructions from your doctor on how to relieve these symptoms.

The recovery process will be different depending on the type of surgery you have. With laparoscopy, you should be able to go back to your activities in a few days. On the other hand, recovery may take up to six weeks.