Hernia Repair Surgery: Steps, Benefits, Side-Effects, Precautions & Prognosis

Hernia repair surgery entails the application of instrumental and manual procedures for correcting herniation of tissues or viscera including groin, abdomen, brain, and diaphragm. Internal organs, composed of tissues, could get herniated or bulged, forcing them to protrude via the wall encasing them. Hernias involving the groin (an inguinal hernia) and the umbilical cord (an umbilical hernia) are two of the most prevalent forms of a hernia.

Since a hernia does not heal on its own but rather expands over time, it is crucial that you opt for surgical treatment to avoid unnecessary/preventable complications in the long run. Hernia surgery, usually performed on an outpatient basis, is a moderately simple operation that can help remedy the organ’s bulging and restore it to its original position.

Steps

Two of the most popular types of hernia repair surgery is ‘herniorrhaphy’ and ‘hernioplasty’. Herniorrhaphy-the traditional hernia repair technique-is still conducted extensively where the surgeon makes a wide and long notch over the herniated organ.  Thereafter, the physician removes the protrusion and reinstates the dislodged organ or tissues to its actual site.

Finally, the doctor sutures the hole in the muscle via which the protuberance developed, sterilizes the incision, and sews it up. Hernioplasty is very much similar to herniorrhaphy procedurally excepting that in the final step, the surgeon overlays a sterile mesh (produced from animal tissues or polypropylene) on the muscular notch rather than suturing it. The nature or type of your herniation will determine the mode of repair surgery you’ll need to opt for.

Strangulated, reducible, and irreducible hernias are the three most widespread kinds of hernias. Both of the aforementioned surgical operation procedures can be carried out using a laparoscope or via open surgery.

Benefits

Both hernioplasty and herniorrhaphy are straightforward and uncomplicated surgical repair processes that take about 30-40 minutes to complete. You won’t feel any pain as the surgery will be done using either local or general anesthesia. Majority of patients are discharged from the hospital or medical center on the very day the laparoscopic surgery is performed. The usual benefits of the laparoscopic repair operation include:-

• Very short duration of stay
• Faster healing
• Reduced pain post surgery
• Quicker return to normal life
• Minimal costs (including all the expense heads)
• Lower risks of infection

Side Effects

The side effects of this type of surgery, most of which are rare, involve:-

• Swelling and redness around the incision or opening
• Blood clot
• Mesh pain
• Urinary tract infection
• Urinary incontinence
• Infection
• Difficulty urinating
• Hernia recurrence
• Neuralgia or nerve damage
• Constipation
• Kidney failure or complications
• Breathing problems or pneumonia

Precautions

You must abide by the surgeon’s instructions once you return home (which are usually on the same day the surgery is carried out) for a speedy recovery. Take all the prescribed medications on time, including the anti-inflammatory drugs for minimizing the possibilities of incision swelling. Contact your surgeon instantly if you’ve recurrent spells of fever, coughs, chills, nausea, abdominal swelling, bleeding as well as experience difficulty in urinating. Make sure you get sufficient rest for at least two weeks following the operation so that you can get back to work at the earliest.

Prognosis

Most hernia surgeries are effective, enabling patients to recover fully within 4-6 weeks. A typical person who has undergone hernia repair surgery can resume normal activities 2 weeks after the procedure.

Concluding Remarks

Opting for a surgical procedure for remedying a hernia is highly recommended not only for avoiding complications which could take a fatal turn (though very rare) but also for going back to leading a normal life. You can make an appointment with our general surgeon for a detailed, one-to-one consultation.

References

• http://www.medtronic.com/us-en/patients/treatments-therapies/hernia-surgery/about-recovery.html
• https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/inguinal-hernia#1
• https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319753.php
• https://www.highgatehospital.co.uk/things-you-need-to-know-hernia-operation/
• https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/need-surgery-hernia#1
• http://columbiasurgery.org/news/2014/04/15/hernias-what-you-need-know
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hernia_repair
• https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/6905-laparoscopic-surgery-for-hernia-repair/risks–benefits