HERNIA SURGERY

A hernia is a protrusion of an organ or tissue through a weakness in the muscle wall of the body. This protrusion creates a bulge, which is often visible and palpable. Hernias can be caused by sudden increases in abdominal pressure, normal wear and tear of the aging process, and some can be present at birth. Hernias are extremely common and each year, close to 700,000 people seek treatment in this country alone. Inguinal hernias are the most common type of hernia encountered with over 500,000 operations being performed annually.

There are two main options for hernia repair:

Open Repair- The traditional, open repair has been the gold standard for over 100 years. There are 5-10 different approaches that are performed routinely with local and intravenous sedation. Due to the larger size of the incision, open hernia repair is generally painful with a relatively long recovery period. 

Minimally Invasive (Laparoscopic) Repair - Minimally Invasive Repair has been progressively developing over the past few decades. It is usually performed under general anesthesia but spinal anesthesia is also an option. Local anesthesia can be used under special circumstances.

MCSO Surgeons use both laparoscopic and open techniques to perform tension-free repairs that result in the least amount of pain and quickest return to normal activities. Hernia surgery usually involves implanting a piece of synthetic mesh to assure that the hernia does not recur.