Laparoscopic Surgery For Inguinal Hernia

Inguinal Hernia is the most common hernia in the abdominal region. With the introduction of the laparoscopic surgery in the 1900s, inguinal hernias also came to be operated through this technique, also known as keyhole surgery.

The area to be operated is accessed through a few small incisions, and a thin tube is inserted, through which instruments are inserted into this space and the desired operation is performed. The tube also has light at the one end, and the operator works through the other end.

Advantages:

1. Minimally-invasive
2. Reduced postoperative hospital stay
3. Reduced chances of postop pain and infection
4. Quicker return to routine work

Disadvantages:

1. Expensive than an open surgery
2. Need for general anesthesia in most cases
3. Longer operative duration
4. Requires a more skilled person

Indications:

1. Recurrent hernias
2. Symptomatic patients
3. Incarcerated hernias, more than reducible hernias
4. Younger patient age group

Contraindications:

1. Acute medical conditions like respiratory infections
2. Poorly controlled diabetes
3. Previous abdominal surgery patients

What to expect: In sequence, bear in mind the following when going in for a laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair.

• Talk to your doctor about the condition and the operation in detail
• Be clear about how long you will have to stay in the hospital, the actual procedure, what will change for you, etc.
• Get admitted to the hospital the previous day if general anesthesia is planned
• The operation is likely to last for a few hours
• Hernia is a weak abdominal wall, through which muscle pushes itself through and sometimes protrudes
• What is done during the surgery is to remove the hernia sac and push hernia back into the abdomen
• The weakened abdominal muscles are then pushed back and sewn into place using a mesh
• This also helps prevent recurrence of hernia
• If topical anesthesia is going to be used, then the patient can be driven home by someone else the same day after recovering from anesthesia (4 to 6 hours)
• Postoperative antibiotics for infection and analgesics for pain control should be strictly adhered to
• The bandages over the incisions should be dry; can shower after a day, no bathing for 3 to 4 days
• Recovery time would be about 1 to 2 weeks, after which light activity can be resumed
• Mild exercise can be resumed, based on doctor’s advice
• Given the area affected, it would be up to 4 weeks of complete recovery to get back to routine
• Laparoscopic hernia repair is associated with less pain postop than open surgical cases
• Post-operation checks should be per the surgeon’s advice. If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult a General Surgeon.