Hernia surgery generally involves fixing the weak defect in the abdominal wall. Almost in all cases, a mesh is placed to strengthen the abdominal wall to prevent the hernia from recurring.
There are mainly three different types of hernia surgeries. Hernia surgery can be done by minimally invasive or laparoscopic means (keyhole), with a robot, or using the traditional open surgery method.
The lump occurs when abdominal contents protrude through this weak defect. When abdominal contents such as fat or bowel get stuck in the defect, the blood supply may be affected, resulting in strangulation of the bowel. This will lead to perforation (causing a hole) in the bowel, which then becomes an abdominal hernia emergency surgery. Hernias can occur from birth or present itself more commonly in adults as physical strain such as repeated exertion from constipation, exercise or childbirth.
There are several common types of hernias. Incisional hernias are associated with previous abdominal surgery, while umbilical hernias are near the belly button as the name suggests. Inguinal hernias, on the other hand, are found near the groin. Hernias can be treated by minimally invasive or open surgery.
An inguinal hernia is the protrusion of abdominal organs (or content) through an abnormal weakness in the abdominal wall.
The first successful inguinal hernia repair was reported in 1880. It started with the open technique. The standard open technique in majority of centers involves using a mesh in the repair of the abdominal defect. Mesh was first introduced in the 1900s. Initial results were poor because of infection and mesh rejection. The standard of infection control was poor during that time and the material of the mesh used was not suitable. Both these factors contributed to the poor outcome of mesh repair.
We fast forward to the current era. Aseptic techniques and advances in mesh research has led to the mesh repair being the standard of care in inguinal hernia surgery. A mesh is used regardless of the surgical technique being used. This has been shown to reduce the rate of recurrence.
The laparoscopic technique has been shown to have some advantages over the traditional open technique. Patients are able to return to work earlier with almost no downtime. Analgesia (pain medication) requirement is also significantly less. Incisions are smaller and risk of wound infection is reduced.
Patients are admitted on the day of the surgery. Laparoscopic hernia surgery may be done as a day procedure, meaning patients can go home on the same day or patients may stay overnight and are discharged the next morning.
After the surgery, they are able to walk about, go to the bathroom and have a meal. Absorbable sutures are used and there is no need for suture removal. There will be waterproof dressing covering the wounds and patients can have a shower.
Analgesia requirements are generally oral tablets and injections are not required. Patients are given 2 weeks of medical leave. There are some who go back to work the very next day.
As Singapore’s hernia surgeon specialist, Dr Winston Woon has more than a decade of experience you can rely on. If you suspect you have a hernia, get in touch and receive the medical advice you need today.
