Hernia surgery

Hernias occur when tissue or an organ begins to squeeze through a weak area or hole in the groin or abdominal wall. Not all hernias require surgery, but if they cause discomfort, pain or other complications, the experts at Aurora can help you explore your treatment options.

What types of hernias are there?

Some of the most common kinds of hernias are:

• Hiatal hernias, which happen when the top of your stomach pushes up through the opening of the diaphragm your esophagus travels through.
• Incisional hernias, which are the result of a weakened incision in your abdominal wall from a past surgery.
• Inguinal hernias, which occur when part of the bowel protrudes into a passage in the inner thigh called the inguinal canal.
• Umbilical hernias, which happen when part of the intestine squeezes through an opening in the abdominal wall by the belly button.
• Ventral hernias, which are hernias that occur through the front wall of your abdomen.

What is hernia repair surgery?

Hernia repair (herniorrhaphy) is one of the most common surgeries in the U.S., with more than one million operations performed annually. Hernia surgery helps return the protruding tissue or organ into place and reinforce the area with stitches or surgical mesh.

Aside from internal discomfort, hernias can sometimes cause visible bulges in the abdomen or groin. As such, people mistakenly assume hernias are problematic tissues or growths that need to be removed, but this isn’t the case.

If your hernia is large, complex or continues to recur, you may need abdominal wall reconstruction and complex hernia surgery to repair your hernia and reinforce your abdominal wall.

Types of hernia surgery (herniorrhaphy)

The type of surgical hernia operation you’ll have is dependent on the location of your hernia among other factors. The most common surgical methods to repair hernias include:

• Open surgery, or the traditional approach to surgery, where a surgeon makes an incision large enough to allow direct access to the area being operated on.
• Laparoscopic surgery, which is a minimally invasive technique with small incisions. A camera is inserted in one hole to help the surgeon see the area, and long, narrow tools are inserted in another hole to perform the surgery.
• Robotic surgery, which is a kind of laparoscopic surgery. A camera and long, narrow tools are still used, but the surgeon employs robotic arms to operate the tools. The surgeon controls the arms via computer in the operating room.

How long does it take to recover from hernia surgery?

Your recovery period is dependent on a number of factors, including the type of hernia you had and how complex your case was. You can generally expect to return to nonphysical work (like a desk job) within a few days. Physically demanding jobs require more recovery time. Light activity and exercise like walking will help you recover gradually.

Risks of hernia surgery

Like any surgery, hernia repair can have complications. Some may be related to the procedure itself and are short-lived, such as infection in the incision; fluid or blood collection; injured tissue, organs or blood vessels; or urinary issues.

Longer-term complications such as internal infection near the surgical mesh, breakdown of the mesh, recurrence of your hernia, pain during sex or long-term pain from your surgery (post-herniorrhaphy neuralgia) can also occur.