About Your Hernia, Laparoscopic Vs. Open Repair:
Laparoscopic Hernia Repair is a technique to fix a tear or hole in the abdominal wall (muscle) using small incisions, telescopes and a patch (mesh).
It offers a quicker return to work and normal activities with decreased pain.
Open Hernia Repair is performed with an incision over the site of the hernia. The hernia or hole in the abdominal wall is repaired with mesh or by closing the defect with sutures.
What Is A Hernia?
When a hernia occurs, the inside layers of the abdominal wall have weakened, resulting in a bulge or tear. Just as an inner tube pushes through a damaged tire, the inner lining (peritoneum) of the abdomen pushes through the weakened area of the abdominal wall to form a small balloon like sac. A loop of intestine or abdominal tissue can then push into the sac. The hernia can cause severe pain and other potentially serious problems that could require emergency surgery.
• both men and women can get a hernia.
• you may be born with a hernia (congenital) or acquire one over time.
• a hernia does not get better over time, nor will it go away by itself. The defect, or hole will stay the same size or become larger.
How Do I Know If I Have A Hernia? The most common areas where a hernia can occur are in the belly button (umbilical), groin (inguinal), and the site of a previous operation site (incisional). It is usually easy to recognize a hernia. You may notice a bulge under the skin. You may feel pain when you lift heavy objects, cough, and strain during urination or bowel movements or during prolonged standing or sitting.
• the pain may be sharp and immediate or may be a dull ache that gets worse toward the end of the day. Severe, continuous pain, redness and tenderness are signs that the hernia may be entrapped
(Incarcerated) or strangulated. These symptoms should prompt you to contact your physician immediately.
Why Do People Get Hernias?
The wall of the abdomen has natural areas of potential weakness. Hernias can develop at these or other areas due to heavy strain on the abdominal wall, aging, injury, an old incision, or a weakness present from birth. Anyone can get a hernia at any age. Most hernias in children are congenital. In adults hernias can be caused by a natural weakness, strain from heavy lifting, persistent coughing, or difficulty with bowel movements or urination.
What Are The Treatment Options?
Most hernias require a surgical procedure. These operations are now done in one of two ways: 1. The traditional approach is done from the outside through an incision in the groin or the area of the hernia. The incision will extend through the skin & fat under the skin, to allow the surgeon to get to the level of the defect. The surgeon may choose to use a small piece of surgical mesh to repair the defect or hole. This technique can be done with a local anesthetic and intravenous sedation or by using a spinal or general anesthetic. 2. The second approach is a laparoscopic hernia repair. A laparoscope (a tiny telescope) connected to a special camera is inserted through a small hollow tube (trocar) to allow the surgeon to view the hernia and surrounding tissue on a video screen. Other incisions are made that allow the surgeon to introduce instruments (forceps & scissors) to operate on the inside without making a large incision. The hernia is repaired from behind the abdominal wall. A piece of surgical mesh or screen is placed over the hernia defect and held in place with small surgical staples or by the patient’s own tissues. This operation is usually performed with general anesthesia.
Is Everyone A Candidate For Laparoscopic Hernia Repair?
Only after a thorough examination can your surgeon determine whether a laparoscopic hernia repair is right for you. The procedure may not be best for some patients who have had previous abdominal surgery or underlying medical conditions.