Laparoscopic Hernia Repair

What is Laparoscopic hernia repair?

Laparoscopic hernia repair is a relatively new surgical technique to fix tears in the abdominal wall (muscle) using small incisions, a patch (mesh), and special cameras to view inside the body. It frequently offers a more rapid recovery for the patient, less postoperative pain, and a quicker return to work and normal activities.

In laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair, a telescope attached to a camera is inserted through a small incision that is made under the patient's belly button. Two other small cuts are made in the lower abdomen. The co2 is then insufflated to open a space between the abdominal muscle (rectus muscle) and the inner layer of abdominal wall (peritoneoum). The hernia defect is identified and reinforced with a 'mesh'.

The laparoscopic repair of ventral hernias was designed to minimize operative trauma to the patient. Three to five small incisions are made away from the hernia defect. The incarcerated fat or bowel is reduced from the hernia sac. A large piece of prosthetic mesh is placed under the hernia defect, inside the abdomen with a wide margin of mesh covering the abdominal wall surrounding the defect. The mesh is anchored in place to the abdominal wall with full thickness sutures and special tacs.

Open technique hernia repair

In a small number of patients the laparoscopic method is not feasible because of an inability to visualize or manipulate the organs involved. These patients should be converted to the open technique. Factors that may increase the possibility of converting to the "open" procedure may include obesity, a history of prior abdominal surgery causing dense scar tissue, or bleeding problems during the operation. The decision to perform the open technique hernia repair is a judgment decision made by surgeon either before or during the actual operation and is strictly based on patient safety.