Inguinal hernias occur when a part of the bowel pushes out through an opening in the muscles of the abdomen into the groin. Inguinal hernias can happen slowly over time or may come on suddenly. You may feel or see a bulge in the groin area and feel pain or discomfort. Though some especially small hernias that do not cause pain may be left alone, many inguinal hernias require surgery.
Open Hernia Repair
An open hernia repair surgery is usually done on an outpatient basis and takes about one hour. A surgeon makes a long incision in the groin and pushes the hernia back into place. If the hernia is going down into the inguinal canal--an opening in the muscles of the abdomen--the surgeon may tie it off and remove it completely instead of pushing it back. The weak spot where the hernia pushed through is patched with a mesh surgical material that reduces the pressure on the abdominal wall and lessens the chance for a hernia to come back. Recovery from an open hernia repair generally takes about four weeks. The most common risks of the procedure include a reaction to the anesthesia, infection, bleeding, nerve damage and numbness.
Laparoscopic Hernia Repair
Laparoscopic hernia repair surgeries are done under general anesthesia. A surgeon will make a small cut just below the navel and inflate the stomach area with air so that he has easier access to the abdomen. The surgeon will then insert a laparoscope--a small scope with a light--into the incision. Other tools to repair the hernia are then inserted through other tiny incisions. The surgeon then places a mesh patch over the area where the hernia pushed through to strengthen the abdominal wall. Most patients who have undergone a laparoscopic hernia repair are able to return to normal activities within one or two weeks. Risks of laparoscopic hernia surgery include numbness, pain, infection, the formation of scar tissue, bladder injury, fluid in the scrotum and hernia recurrence.
Considerations
Laparoscopic hernia surgery generally causes less pain and numbness than an open hernia surgery. Serious complications, such as bladder injuries, are more likely to occur with laparoscopic surgery and the procedure costs more than an open hernia repair. Inguinal hernias can recur. Initial hernia repairs carry fewer risks than subsequent procedures. Recurrent hernia repair surgeries have a higher risk of pain, numbness and scar tissue. According to WebMD, the chance of a hernia recurring ranges from one to 10 out of every 100 surgeries, and most hernias that will recur do so within five years after the initial surgery. Weak abdominal muscles may not be strong enough to support the stitching and cause bleeding or infection that could weaken the repair, making a recurring hernia more likely.
Tags: open hernia, hernia repair, hernia surgery, Inguinal hernias, abdominal wall, chance hernia, hernia pushed