Hernia Repairs
Safe, effective surgical repair of inguinal and other hernias performed on an outpatient basis.
Open Inguinal Hernia Repair
For open hernia repair surgery, a single long incision is made in the groin. If the hernia is bulging out of the abdominal wall (a direct hernia), the bulge is pushed back into place. If the hernia is going down the inguinal canal (indirect), the hernia sac is either pushed back or tied off and removed.
Mesh patches of synthetic material are now being widely used to repair hernias (hernioplasty). Patches are sewn over the weakened area in the abdominal wall after the hernia is pushed back into place. The patch decreases the tension on the weakened belly wall, reducing the risk that a hernia will recur.
What To Expect After Surgery
Most people who have open hernia repair surgery are able to go home the same day. You most likely can return to light activity after 3 weeks. To reduce swelling and pain, put ice or a cold pack on the area for 10 to 20 minutes at a time every 1 to 2 hours.
How Well It Works
Open surgery for inguinal hernia repair is safe. The recurrence rate is low when open hernia repair is done by experienced surgeons using mesh patches. The chance of a hernia coming back after open surgery ranges from 1 to 10 out of every 100 open surgeries done.
Risks
- Reaction to anesthesia (main risk)
- Infection and bleeding at the site
- Nerve damage or numbness of skin (infrequent)
- Damage to the femoral artery or vein (rare)