A hernia occurs when an organ or fatty tissue pushes through a hole or weak point in the surrounding muscle or tissue. There are several types, but they all occur in the abdomen or groin areas. Hernias are not always easy to detect, and sometimes you may not realize you have one until a doctor finds it during a routine physical.
In many cases, hernias do not have symptoms, and at first, they may not affect your life at all. While you can live with the condition untreated for some time, it is important to have the issue repaired before more serious health issues develop. The only effective method of hernia repair is surgery.
Hernias are usually detected because they result in noticeable bulges around the abdomen or groin. Surgery involves pushing the organ or tissue back into place.
Hernias can be tender to the touch and cause severe discomfort while performing normal daily activities.
While hernias are relatively benign at first, they can lead to serious issues in the future, such as intestinal incarceration or bowel obstruction, which can be life-threatening.
Laparoscopic hernia repair is a technique to fix defects in the abdominal wall using small incisions, Laparoscopes (small telescopes inserted into the abdomen) and a patch (mesh) to reinforce the abdominal wall.
With laparoscopic surgery, a few small incisions are made around the abdomen and the surgeon works through these tiny incisions. There is little to no visible scarring after hernia surgery.
Laparoscopic surgical techniques combined with sedation and anesthesia eliminates pain during the operation. The small incisions, removal and careful adjustment of tissues also minimize post-op soreness and related side effects.
The tiny surgical tools in the surgery are extremely precise. The surgeon can manipulate the equipment with great accuracy. The affected tissues are treated without harming the surrounding tissue.
Laparoscopic surgery avoids the large incisions of open surgery. Patients will have shorter hospital stays or go home the same day.