A laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair is a common surgery done to repair bulging tissues of the abdomen back into their place by reinforcing the defect in the abdominal wall. Dr. Noorbhai does this surgery using minimally invasive surgical techniques as opposed to traditional open surgery when a hernia is relatively small. The type of surgery that you may require will be customed to your presenting condition.
Once under general anaesthesia, a laparoscope, which is a narrow tube with a camera, will be inserted through a small incision in the lower abdomen allowing your surgeon to view the internal organs on a screen. Through other thin tubes, narrow tools are inserted to delicately repair the hernia with synthetic mesh to reinforce the abdominal wall. Finally, your surgeon will close the puncture-like incisions with absorbable stitches or surgical staples.
An inguinal hernia repair surgery is done when the hernia is causing nerve pain and discomfort in daily life. A hernia may also become dangerous if your intestines become twisted or trapped, which may require emergency surgery. Whether or not the repair can be done with laparoscopic surgery or open surgery will depend on the size and severity of your hernia.
Most laparoscopic repair patients are able to go home on the same day as surgery. How soon you will be discharged from hospital depends on whether you are able to drink liquids when waking up, how much pain you have and whether you have someone to look after you at home.
Following a laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair you may experience the following:
All these symptoms are normal and are nothing to be concerned about. Re-consult if you have an unusually high temperature, chills, vomiting, swelling around the incisions, bleeding, you are experiencing excessive pain or cramping of the stomach muscles as emergency care may be needed. Approximately 3 weeks after your operation you will be seen by your surgeon to check your wounds.
You will be able to resume normal activities soon after your surgery; however, it is important to start slowly. If you experience pain during a certain activities, stop that activity. You may not do any heavy lifting or vigorous physical activity for at least 4 weeks after your laparoscopic procedure. You may return to physical exercise only once you have been to your follow-up consult, 3 weeks after surgery. It may take up to 6 weeks for a full recovery.
The risk of complications during laparoscopic surgery is very low; however, there are risks involved in any surgery, and the following complications can occur:
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