What is Hernia Repair Surgery

A hernia repair is usually performed as an outpatient surgery with no overnight stay in the hospital. 

Suitability for Hernia Repair Surgery

The mere presence of a hernia is not a reason for surgery. Hernia requires surgery occasionally on an emergency basis. Surgery otherwise is reserved for those patients with symptoms that cannot be controlled with medications. 

Surgical treatment for Hernia is called for when it:

• Causes symptoms that cannot be treated with medication,
• Increases in size resulting in worsening symptoms,
• Represents higher complications (femoral hernia and Spigelian hernia)
• Results in inflammation and ulceration.



Types of Hernia Repair Surgery

The operation may be performed as an 

• Open Surgery
• Keyhole or Laparoscopic Surgery

There are two types of laparoscopic surgery, and the most commonly used surgical techniques for hernia repair are:

• Transabdominal Preperitoneal (TAPP) Repair, and 
• Extraperitoneal (TEP) Repair.

Open Hernia Surgery

About Open Hernia Surgery

To treat a hernia, your doctor may push the hernia back into its normal location and have you wear a belt to hold the hernia in place.

However, surgical repair is recommended for hernias that cause pain and other symptoms and for irreducible hernias (structures that cannot be returned to their normal locations) that are incarcerated or strangulated. Surgery aims at closure and repair of the muscle wall through which the hernia protrudes.

What is Open Surgery?

Open surgery, also called Herniorrhaphy, for a hernia can be done under general or local anesthesia. Your surgeon makes an incision of about 5-10cm long (depending on the size of the hernia) to view and access the surgical site. 

Your surgeon pushes the part of the intestine that protrudes back into its normal position and repairs the weakened muscle layer by sewing the edges of the healthy muscle wall together. 

A synthetic mesh is often placed and sewn over the weakened area to provide additional support and strength by a procedure called Hernioplasty. The incision is closed after the procedure using dissolvable stitches.

Post-operative Care

Following surgery, you.

• Can take a shower only after 48 hours post-surgery
• Can go home the day of the procedure
• Should avoid driving while taking pain killers as they induce drowsiness
• Can resume daily activities slowly, while strenuous activities should be resumed only after consultation with your surgeon
• Use an ice pack on the wound to reduce pain, prevent swelling and to lessen bloody discharge from the incision if present
• Recover in about three weeks

Risks and Complications

Like most surgical procedures, hernia repair is associated with the following risks and complications:

• Reaction to anaesthesia
• Infection
• Bleeding at the operation site
• Nerve damage and numbness of the skin
• Damage to surrounding tissue

Although the recurrence of hernias is seen in less than 5% of patients after surgery, you must follow preventive measures.

Laparoscopic Hernia Surgery

Why Consider Laparoscopic Hernia Surgery

Laparoscopic hernia surgery is a surgical procedure in which a laparoscope is inserted into the abdomen through a small incision. The laparoscope is a small fibre-optic viewing instrument attached with a tiny lens, light source, and video camera.

About Laparoscopic Hernia Surgery

Laparoscopic surgery is performed in a hospital operating room under general anaesthesia. The procedure involves the following:

• A camera attached to the laparoscope displays the image of the abdominal cavity on a screen.
• The surgeon makes three small incisions over the abdomen to insert the balloon dissector and trocars (keyholes). 
• A deflated balloon along with the laparoscope is inserted, and the balloon is inflated with a hand pump under direct vision. 
• Once the trocars (key holes) are placed, the keyhole instruments are inserted to repair a hernia. 
• A mesh sheet is inserted through the top keyhole and positioned and fixed in the abdominal wall to reinforce the repair and help prevent recurrent hernias. After completion of the repair, the CO2 gas is evacuated, the trocars are removed, and the tiny incisions are closed and dressed with a sterile bandage.

Indications And Contraindications

Indications for laparoscopic hernia repair over open repair may include recurrent hernias, bilateral hernias, and the need for an earlier return to full activities.

Contraindications specific to laparoscopic hernia surgery include non-reducible inguinal hernia, previous peritoneal surgery, and inability to tolerate general anaesthesia.

Medical conditions including upper respiratory tract or skin infection and poorly controlled diabetes mellitus should be fully addressed, and the surgery should be delayed accordingly.

Advantages Over Open Surgery

• Less post-operative pain with smaller incisions and faster recovery
• No further incisions are required for patients with hernias in both groins (a bilateral hernia)
• The ideal method for patients with recurrent hernias after previous surgery
• Early discharge from hospital
• Earlier return to work

Complications With Laparoscopic Hernia Surgery

Specific complications of laparoscopic hernia surgery may include 

• local discomfort and stiffness, 
• infection, 
• damage to nerves and blood vessels, 
• Bruising, blood clots, 
• wound irritation and 
• urinary retention.

Post-operative Guidelines

• Pain medication will be provided and should be taken as directed.
• Remove the bandage after 24 hours.
• See GP for wound review after five days.
• Swelling in the groin at the site of a hernia may occur due to serum accumulation in the cavity left by reducing the hernial sac.
• Bruising usually appears in the genital area, which is not painful and disappears over 1-2 weeks.
• You can usually drive in 1-2 weeks and resume normal activities when comfortable unless otherwise instructed.
• Make a follow-up visit approximately two weeks after surgery to monitor your progress.

The most commonly used laparoscopic surgical techniques for hernia repair are

• transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) and 
• extraperitoneal (TEP) repair.

TAPP Repair

Transabdominal Preperitoneal (TAPP) Repair surgery is a minimally invasive procedure performed under general anaesthesia. 

Your surgeon makes a small incision beneath the navel. A needle is inserted through the incision, and the abdomen is filled with gas. This allows your surgeon to view the internal organs. 

The needle is removed, and a camera is inserted through the incision. Further, two more incisions are made near the navel to introduce the surgical instruments. The peritoneum (a membrane that lines the abdominal cavity) is cut, and the hernia sac is removed carefully.

A synthetic mesh is placed over the peritoneal opening and closed with sutures. The disadvantage of the TAPP procedure is it can cause injury to adjacent abdominal organs. The advantage of the TAPP procedure is that it can be performed on patients who have undergone previous lower midline surgery.

TEP Repair

Extraperitoneal (TEP) Repair Surgery is also performed under general anaesthesia. Your surgeon makes small incisions below the navel. A balloon is placed in the preperitoneal space (space between the peritoneum and anterior abdominal wall) and filled with gas to separate the layers. 

The camera and the surgical instruments are passed through the incisions. Your surgeon exposes the hernial sac, repositions it and seals the hernia with a synthetic mesh. The incisions are then closed with sutures. 

The mesh slowly gets incorporated with the tissues of the abdominal wall. The advantage of the TEP procedure is that it prevents the risk associated with damage to the internal organs as it is performed outside of the peritoneum.

As with all surgical procedures, TEP and TAPP hernia repair may be associated with certain complications, which include infection, bleeding, swelling and damage to the adjacent organs.