Inguinal Hernia Repair

A Minimally-Invasive Solution

The protrusion of soft tissue through the part of the abdominal wall near the groin area is known as an inguinal hernia. Usually, this means that a portion of the intestine is being pushed out of the space it normally occupies (although the intestines are not always involved). The condition can affect people of any age, and it can be completely without symptoms. Although it may not be a serious health risk, it will not resolve itself on its own, and it may become larger over time. To fix an inguinal hernia, surgery is needed.

Symptoms that may indicate the presence of an inguinal hernia include a bulge near the pubic area with possible pain and discomfort, or a sensation of burning, gurgling, heaviness or pressure near the groin. Patients needing inguinal hernia repair often have developed the condition as a result of obesity, pregnancy, straining during bowel movements, abdominal fluid, chronic coughing and sneezing or an idiosyncratic weak spot in the abdominal wall. Hernia surgery is important in order to avoid potential complications resulting from the inguinal surgery, such as excessive pressure on nearby tissues that results in pain and swelling. If the inguinal hernia involves the intestines, it can lead to trapping or strangulation of the bowel tissue. The intestines may not get the blood supply they need, causing nausea, vomiting, painful bowel movements and inability to pass gas.

How is the Surgery Performed?

Inguinal hernia repair requires you to be placed under general anesthesia, so you won’t feel any pain during the surgery or have any recollection of it. Surgeons at miVIP use minimally invasive laparoscopic methods to make small incisions in your abdomen that allow insertion of a thin tube equipped with a camera. This lets the surgeons see inside the abdominal cavity to locate the hernia and use pencil-thin instruments to maneuver the tissue back to its proper location.

To prevent hernias from occurring in the future, the surgeons will close up openings from which tissue could eventually extrude. They might also patch up weak spots with a mesh made especially for the purpose.

The Surgeons at miVIP

The surgeons at miVIP are highly skilled at hernia surgery. They are experts in techniques that can shorten your recovery time and help you avoid hernias in the future. The minimally-invasive procedure only requires incisions on a single side of your body even if you need inguinal hernia repair on both sides of your groin. With an open surgical approach, two sets of incisions would be needed in this case.

What to Expect after Hernia Repair

The laparoscopic approach allows you to return to your everyday activities much sooner than would the traditional open approach. You will have less bleeding, lower infection risk, quicker healing and significantly less scarring when treated laparoscopically. Although you may experience a certain amount of soreness and discomfort after surgery, you can expect to return to your normal activities quickly. Hernia repair has an excellent prognosis, with less than three percent of patients experiencing a hernia in the future.

Cost of Procedure

The cost of inguinal hernia repair depends on your insurance plan. You may have to spend some money out of pocket if your plan requires that a deductible be met before compensation is provided. Our staff at miVIP will work with you to come up with a financial plan to cover the procedure’s cost.