Inguinal Hernia Repair Surgery, Risks and Outcomes - CHI Health

A hernia is an outpouching of abdominal contents through your abdominal wall. In
your case, your hernia is found in your inguinal canal (your groin.) These hernias can contain intra-abdominal fat, loops of bowels, or even other organs. Hernias can be present from birth or acquired throughout your life, and can be worsened with heavy lifting.

An inguinal hernia can be repaired electively if a patient desires to be rid of their hernia due to discomfort, pain, or appearance. Without repair, there is a small risk of small bowel obstruction, incarceration (your hernia getting stuck outside of your abdomen) or strangulation (when hernia contents get cut off from their blood supply and begin to die.) Strangulation is a reason for emergent reduction (replacing hernia contents into abdomen) and repair of hernia. Occasionally, loops of bowel trapped in a strangulated hernia will no longer be viable and will require resection.

Your surgery will be done in an operating room, either under local anesthesia with sedation or under general anesthesia--which is when you are completely asleep. All laparoscopic procedures are done under general anesthesia. The length of the procedure can vary but is usually 1-2 hours. It is usually done through an open incision at your groin or through three or more small abdominal incisions with the help of a long camera (laparoscopic surgery). In some cases, we may also use a robotic approach to assist in the laparoscopic procedure.

In an open hernia repair, an incision is made at your groin and your hernia contents are replaced into your abdomen. The hernia sac is carefully dissected away and resected. Usually a mesh will be sewn in place to prevent hernia recurrence and then the skin incision will be sewn
closed.

For a laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair, we will enter your abdomen through tiny incisions and
insufflate your abdomen with gas. Once we have done this, your inguinal hernia is located and
your hernia is pulled back into the abdominal cavity and inspected. At this point, a mesh is
placed internally to patch over your hernia site and fixed into place. We will then close your small incisions and your procedure will be complete. Rarely, a larger incision may be necessary
if the procedure cannot be completed safely through the smaller incisions.
In addition to your surgeon, an anesthesia provider, a surgical resident or surgical assistant,
nurses, and surgical technicians will be present in the operating room. Since this is a teaching
hospital, Medical students and other learners may also be present. To learn more about hernia repair visit www.chihealth.com/hernia.